Nursery

Welcome to Sacred Heart Nursery

At Sacred Heart Nursery we learn through play in our wonderful, engaging environment. The Nursery is equipped with a large outdoor area, two indoor playrooms and a quiet room. We focus on the prime areas of learning in everything we do. We learn early communication skills through songs, rhymes and stories. 

We develop our physical skills by challenging ourselves outside; running, climbing, biking, digging, throwing and catching. We make our hands strong through dough disco and squiggling, as well as fine motor activities, such as threading, cutting, painting and drawing.

Children are supported to learn about their feelings and to regulate their emotions. We develop turn taking and sharing skills, enabling the children to make friends and negotiate within their play. We foster close relationships with the children, helping them to settle into nursery, and supporting them with transition to school life.

In our loving and caring environment, we support the children to flourish as they start their learning journey at Sacred Heart.

Below you will find information regarding funding and details on how to check eligibility.

Children aged 3-4 years (15 hours and 30 hours available)

15 hours childcare (5 half days) – funding available for all

Available for all children aged 3-4 years. You don’t need to check eligibility.

AM session      8:30am - 11:30am

PM session      12:15pm - 3:15pm

All 3 and 4 year old children are entitled to 15 hours per week of funded nursery entitlement, the term after their 3rd birthday. Please see the table below, to help explain this:

If your child does not fall within the category for a fully funded place but has turned 3 years old, they are still able to start nursery but we will need to access 2 year old funding. To do this, there are two routes:

1. For families in England, receiving some form of goverment support your child may be eligible to a funded nursery place. Please visit https://eyes-par-portal.hartlepool.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/freechildcare to check eligibility.
2. For working families, please visit https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working/apply-for-free-childcare-if-youre-working

In either case, you will be provided with an eligibility code. This needs to be added to your application form.

30 hours childcare (8:30am - 2:30pm) – available for working families

Available for eligible, working families in England. Are you eligible:

• You and partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage). 

• If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.

Eligible working families can get up to 30 hours childcare. This cannot be used in addition to the 15 hours available for all 3 and 4 year olds.

To apply, visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working You will be provided with a 30 hour code which you will need to add to your application form. Please be aware that the code will need to be renewed every 3 months. 

When applying for your code, please be aware of the timeline below for when you need to apply:

Private Sessions

If you’re eligible to 15 hours of funded childcare (5 half days) but you would like to extend your child’s day at nursery to a full day, you can do so by paying privately.  

Session times and costs:

Half Day Session (3 hours) - £15.00

These sessions are dependent on availability and must be confirmed with the school in advance. Bookings and payments must be made at least 1 week in advance. You can make payment either online on our school app (My Child at School) or if eligible, we accept tax free childcare payments. To check eligibility for tax free childcare, please visit https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ If making payment using tax free childcare, please notify the office (01429 272684). 

Optional Extras

If you're accessing the 30 funded hours, this is offered as a continuous provision from 8:30am to 2:30pm.  Parents/carers wishing for their child to remain at school beyond this time, may opt into an additional 45 minute session running 2:30pm to 3:15pm, at a cost of £3.75 per session.

Where a child is staying all day, they will have the option of having a school meal. School meals are charged at £2.75 per day. If eligible, it is possible to apply for Free School Meals.  To check eligibility, please visit https://hartlepool-self.achieveservice.com/service/Free_School_Meals___apply or contact the school office for a form.

General Information

Please note, nursery is available term time only. Funding and private payments will not cover meals and trips. Each day you will need to provide a bag with spare clothes and wipes. Children wear a uniform in our 3 year old nursery setting. Please visit our school uniform page for more details and a link to our supplier, should you wish to purchase any items with our school logo on it.

For more useful information, please visit http://childcarechoices.gov.uk or call HMRC family eligibility helpline on 0300 1234097.

We look forward to welcoming your child to our wonderful school.

Previous Next