Admissions Policy

 

Policy Statement

 

It is our intention to make our setting accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community.  We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the setting through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.

 

Procedures

 

• We ensure that the existence of our setting is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community.

• We ensure that information about our setting is accessible, in written and spoken form and, where appropriate, in more than one language.  We will endeavour to provide translated written materials where language needs of families suggest this is required as well as access to an interpreter.

• When arranging our waiting list we take into account the following considerations:

- Date of birth

- Priority is given to those children requiring most sessions

- Priority is given to 2 year olds who are funded by WSCC

- Looked after children identified to us by West Sussex County council

- Siblings already attending the setting & siblings of previous Rascals members

- Date of enquiry

- Members of Rustington Methodist Church

​

• We describe our setting and its practices in terms that make it clear that it welcomes both fathers and mothers, other relations and other carers/guardians, including childminders unless the circumstances prevents us from doing so.

• We describe our setting and its practices in terms of how it treats each child and their family, having regard to their needs arising from their gender, special educational needs, disabilities, social background, religion, ethnicity or from English being a newly acquired additional language.

• We describe our setting and its practices in terms of how it enables children and/or parents with disabilities to take part in the life of the setting.

• We monitor the ethnic background of children joining the group to ensure that our intake is representative of social diversity.

• We make our Equal Opportunities Policy widely known.

• We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families, providing these do not disrupt the pattern of continuity in the setting that provides stability for all the children.

• Once a child is settled extra sessions will be offered as and when they become available.  A child will not automatically receive extra days when they become funded if places are not available at that time. 

• If extra days are offered prior to the free entitlement coming into force and parents/carers are unable to accept these sessions at the time, these sessions may be offered to another child and parents/carers may then be required to wait longer for extra sessions.  This will always be fully explained. 

• Families are required to give us one months notice prior to moving their child away from the setting, whether they are fee paying or in receipt of Free entitlement from West Sussex County Council.  Parents sign their agreement to this within our registration form.  

• Families are required to share the child’s Health Record Book (known as the Red Book) as part of the registration process in order to ensure immunisations are up to date.

PLEASE NOTE: Younger siblings are not automatically put on our waiting list, so to avoid disappointment please let us have their details as soon as possible.

 

Policies and Procedures

A full list of our policies and procedures are available to be viewed at any time. Please feel free to ask a member of staff to collect the folder for you.
The following policies are sent to new parents with their welcome pack as well as a registration form for the West Sussex County Council's Family Services. The FAQs regarding this form can be found below.

​

​

Safeguarding Children

​

Promoting Positive Behaviour

Information Sharing

Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality

Key Worker/Settling In

Collection of Fees

​

Important safeguarding information for parents/carer - WSCC Safeguarding letter: May 2023

​

​