Nursery – 2-year-olds

We welcome children into our Nursery as soon as they have turned two. We are delighted to be able to offer provision to children before they receive entitlement to free early education at age three.

We aim to ensure that our very youngest learners feel happy, secure and confident and this is built on a strong foundation of nurturing relationships with familiar adults, including their key person. This person will get to know their children very well and be the main point of contact with parents.

Our curriculum provision is planned with our children’s interests in mind, along with giving children the opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge, particularly focusing on their prime areas of learning. They will do so by spending time both together and apart from the three and four-year-olds in the Nursery.

Costings

A significant number of two-year-olds are eligible for free childcare. 15-hour funding for two-year-olds can be used towards the cost of nursery places. If your family meet any of the following eligibility criteria you can apply for funding:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit and earn £16,190 or less per year
• Child Tax Credit and earn £16,190 or less per year
• Universal Credit, if you and your partner have a combined income from work of £15,400 or less a year, after tax
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

You are also able to apply for 15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds if your child:

• is looked after by the local council
• has left care through a special guardianship order (SGO), adoption or residency order
• receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• has an education, health and care (EHC) plan

If you think you might be eligible for free childcare you can apply online at: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/children-families/childcare/childcare-funding/15-hours-free-childcare-for-2-year-olds.aspx

For two-year-olds who are not eligible for 15 hours free childcare funding, our Nursery session fees are as follows:

• £1.35 early start (8.30am-8.45am)
• £16.20 per morning session (8.45am - 11.45am) or afternoon session (12.15pm - 3.15pm)
• £2.80 per lunchtime session (11.45am-12.15pm)
• £35.20 per full-day session (8.45am - 3.15pm)

Under the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework 2014, a Progress Check at Age Two will be carried out to ensure that parents have a clear picture of their child’s development. It will identify strengths and areas of development particularly in the three prime areas. This will be shared with parents/carers.