What we offer

Funded Entitlement Nursery Places

We operate as a Northamptonshire County Council Local Education Authority Nursery, providing funded education for two, three and four year olds in the neighbourhood. The majority of children attend from the September after their third birthday for one year before continuing the foundation stage of their education in the reception year at Infant School. Where spaces are available children may be able to attend Ronald Tree Nursery from the term after their third birthday. Demand for our places is very high so please register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

All children are entitled to 570 hours per year (15 hours per week) funding starting from the term after their third birthday. Parents on low incomes may be eligible for funding from the term after their child's second birthday. To see if you qualify for two year old funding go to the childcare choices website.

The fifteen hour sessions for two and three year olds are either:

each morning (8.30 to 11.30am) or
each afternoon (12.30 to 3.30pm) during term time.

Three year old places are limited to 33 children each morning and 33 children each afternoon. Two year old places are limited to 12 children each morning and 8 children each afternoon.

Please see below for the thirty hour sessions.

Children who attend Ronald Tree transfer to the most of infant and primary schools in Kettering but the majority transfer to the Kettering Buccleuch Academy, Park Infant School and St Mary's Church of England Primary which are close by.

Additional Hours and the 30 Hours funded entitlement for Working Parents

We offer a range of extended services to parents including; breakfast club (8am-8.30am), lunch club (11.30am - 12:30pm), afterschool club (3.30pm to 4.30pm) or extra sessions. Where there is sufficient demand schemes may be run during school holidays. Please ask at reception if you are interested. All additional hours above the funded entitlement are charged at a core rate of £5.00 per hour from 1 April 2021.

If parents work for more than 16 hours per week at the minimum wage they may be eligible for 30 hours funded childcare. To check whether you are eligible please go to the Child Care Choices website. If you do meet the government criteria please talk to us on 01536-514240 about what hours you need; we try to be flexible but cannot guarantee to be able to meet all requests. We have 26 places available. We open at 8am and close at 4.30pm each day, but we do limit drop off and collection times to certain times to minimise disruption to the school environment. Many parents choose to access the thirty hours over four days only, but others have children attending everyday and pay for the additional hours above the funded entitlement. Parents must obtain a valid code and by the day before the funding period begins in order to qualify (ie by the 31st August to qualify between 1st September and 31st December).

Children with a Hearing Impairment

Ronald Tree Nursery School has offered specialist provision for children with a hearing impairment for over twenty years and our staff have a wealth of experience in helping these children to reach their full potential; hearing impaired children are fully integrated with the other children in the nursery and have access to the same opportunities whilst being supported by specialist staff and other professionals to meet their individual needs. These children may be taken from outside the catchment area.

Qualified Teaching Staff

The nursery staff team is led by the head teacher, Jackie Wilson, and Early Years Practitioners, who are known collectively as Key Workers. Early Years Assistants complete the team providing additional general and special needs support. The children are put into equal groups reflecting age and gender and then allocated randomly to the staff. The particular key worker will then be the person who will record development throughout the year, and will have special daily contact with the child and family but all staff will support all children depending on their needs. All the staff employed in the nursery are qualified to a minimum of NVQ Level 3 and receive regular training and updates. All staff have CRB/DBS enhanced clearance.

Funded Entitlement

Parents of eligible 2, 3 and 4 year-olds may claim up to 570 hours funded entitlement per year. The entitlement may be claimed at more than one setting but the maximum you may claim remains 570 hours per year. Claiming more than your funded entitlement is a fraudulent offence unless you have a valid code for the additional hours, under the 30 hours working parents scheme. Parents will be charged if they exceed their funded entitlement. If you are moving to Ronald Tree from another setting please check what hours you have claimed with your previous nursery or childminder. Thank you.

Parental Contributions

We ask all parents for a contribution towards snacks, activities and consumables of £2.50 per week. Where children attend for 30 hours per week we ask for a contribution of £5 per week. The government funding we receive is intended to enable us to deliver the 15 or 30 hours a week of high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the costs of snacks, other consumables, additional hours or additional activities. The government expects early years providers to ask parents to pay for snacks and additional hours and activities etc. Snacks are provided at Ronald Tree Nursery School during each session; they are healthy and nutritional and in line with government guidelines for this age group. Any surplus money received will help to subsidise school trips, particular activities, Christmas and End of Year parties and items which are not funded by the government funding.

Notice Periods

If you need to change the hours your child attends nursery, or if you wish to leave the nursery for some reason (eg if you are moving out of the area), we require four weeks notice. Thank you.

Registering Your Child

To register your child for a place at Ronald Tree Nursery School please complete the the online registration form. Thank you.

Taking your child to an early years setting - information for parents