Admission
Admission to nursery is not covered by statute but the following criteria is policy for admission to Mini Meophams.
Children are normally considered for admission to our nursery calendar year before they are due to enter Reception. Where spaces are available, younger children will be considered and offered places.
Admissions criteria for allocating nursery places are as follows:
- Children in Local Authority Care or previously in Local Authority Care
- Current family association
- Health, social and special access reasons
- Children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium
- Age
- Distance from the school
Note:
- To be eligible under the second criterion, the sibling must still be attending the mainstream school when the younger child takes up a place in the nursery
- A place in the nursery does not guarantee a place in the Reception class of the mainstream school. Therefore a separate application must be made for admission to the main school
- Applications should be made directly to Meopham Community Academy
All children are eligible for 15 hours of free funding from the term after the child’s 3rd birthday. Entitlement to a Free Early Education place does not offer a guarantee of a place at any one provider or a particular pattern of delivery.
Children who are younger than 3 may be offered a place no earlier than the September after they have turned 2. Children who are 2 years old and eligible for a ‘Free for 2 (FF2)’ place can apply at any point during the term, in accordance with the eligibility confirmed start date.
You can apply for a place at Mini Meophams for your child by contacting the main school office on mca-office@golden-thread.org.uk.
Weekly costs
15 hour place is £120.00 per week (funded hours available).
30 hour place is £240.00 per week.
Additional (optional) hour is £8 per session 14:30-15:30 daily.
Pattern of Delivery (from September 2026)
Mini Meophams is a sessional, term time only (open for 38 weeks a year) early years provision. We are pleased to be able to offer 15 hour and 30 hour funded places. The offer of our delivery from September 2026 is as follows:
Option 1 – 15 hours:
Monday 8:30-14:30
Tuesday 8:30-14:30
Wednesday morning (8:30-11:30)
Option 2 – 15 hours:
Wednesday afternoon (11:30-14:30)
Thursday 8:30-14:30
Friday 8:30-14:30
Option 3 – 30 hours:
Monday to Friday 8:30 – 14:30
Collections must be prompt at the end of registered session.
There is an additional optional hour 14:30-15:30 that is priced at £8.00 if you wish your child to stay until 15:30, bookable in advance for each term.
To find out more information about funding and eligibility please visit childcarechoices.gov.uk.
Early Years Pupil Premium
Your child may be eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium if your child is aged 3 or 4 and you get 15 hours free childcare.
