Dear Parents,

I am writing to share some news on our progress as we prepare to open to two-year-olds in January, as well as some changes in the Nursery funding process that will allow our families to make greater use of funded hours.

You can find links to session and fee adjustments and the details of holiday provision below.

Classroom Renovations

The development of our third Nursery classroom is going very well, and the site team are doing a fantastic job. It has been stripped and painted, and we are expecting the new flooring to be laid in December. Once complete, this space will meet the same high standards as our current rooms, creating a welcoming and functional environment for our children.

Nursery Taster Day Success

We had a fantastic Nursery Taster Day last Friday, welcoming 20 interested families, including many who have expressed an interest in our two-year-old room. While this is an exciting opportunity for growth, I want to reassure you that we remain committed to the individual care and strong relationships our staff build with the children. Not all children will join immediately, and we are carefully planning staffing and room allocations to ensure we maintain the exceptional standards you value.

Funding and Extended Nursery Weeks

Starting in January, we will transition to offering 38 weeks of funding per year, which means the Nursery term times will differ slightly from the school calendar. This might mean that the school operates Holiday Club while the Nursery remains in session. While these sessions will be charged at a slightly higher rate than Holiday Club, funding will be available, making this option more beneficial for our Nursery families overall.

Once the new Nursery term time is completed, the option of Holiday Club for Nursery families will be reintroduced. Two-year-olds attending Holiday Club sessions will be charged at a slightly higher rate to account for the additional staffing requirements needed to meet their care needs.

I know this may sound a little confusing but rest assured, we will clearly publish the Nursery term dates on the website as soon as possible and provide regular updates to remind you of any actions you may need to take. This change allows us to provide additional flexibility and align the funded sessions more closely with the needs of Nursery families, ensuring greater access to high-quality care throughout the year.

Changes to Sessions and Fees

With the introduction of two-year-olds and revised funding rules, there will be slight adjustments to available sessions and how we charge:

1. Full-Day Sign-Ups for New Families

From January 2025, families joining the Nursery will be required to sign up for full days. Current families will have their hours honoured until September 2025, at which point most children will be in Reception.

2. Nursery Hours

• The Nursery day will now run from 8.15am to 3.45pm.
• Morning care will be available from 7.45am for an additional charge.
• We have introduced a simplified whole-day rate to make things clearer.

These adjustments are all on the website with the updated fees via the link below.

Thank you for your continued support as we grow and adapt to meet the needs of our Nursery community. If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please don't hesitate to contact Jordan (jordan.ruddick@stedwardsprep.com) who would be happy to talk you through the details.

Best wishes,

Jonathan Parsons, Headteacher