Admissions

How to make an application to Arlesdene Nursery School or Pre-school?

Applications for Pre-school

Our Pre-school offers part time and full time places for 2 - 3 year olds during school term times. Some 2-year-olds in England can get free early education and childcare. To find out if your child is eligible for funding please follow the Childcare and free early education link here. We ask that your child attends for a minimum of two sessions and they must run over consecutive days.

Working parents may be entitled to 30 hours free childcare. To check your eligibility go the Best start in Life - Childcare support Checker.

To make an application complete the Pre-school online admission form below. Please read the schools Privacy Notice you will be asked to confirm you have read and agree with it. Childcare and free early education

Complete the Pre-school online admissions form for 2 year olds.

Applications for Nursery

We are accepting Nursery applications for the September 2026 intake.

Children born between 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023. Applications will close on Friday 20th February 2026 and allocations will be made on Friday 6th March 2026.

If you child’s birthday falls outside these dates please contact Lorraine in the school office.

Our Nursery School offers places for 3- 4 year olds. All children are entitled to 15 hours free nursery education the school term after their 3rd birthday. At Arlesdene 15 hours are available during school term times only, over 5 mornings 9am - 12pm.
We do not offer afternoon sessions for 15 hour entitlement.

Working parents may be entitled to 30 hours free childcare hours, Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm Please visit the Best Start in Life website for more information on free childcare.

To make an application complete the Nursery online admission form below. Please read the schools Privacy Notice you will be asked to confirm you have read and agree with it.

Complete the Nursery online admissions form for 3 & 4 Year Olds

Best Start In Life - Childcare Support Checker Privacy Notice to Parents and Carers Admissions Policy Terms and Conditions

Admissions Criteria

Order of priority in which places will be allocated is:

Children with an EHC (Education and Health Care) Plan that names Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School
Children looked after by the local authority
Children ‘at risk’ who are the subject of an inter-agency Child Protection Plan
Other applicants:

(a) Children with a particular medical or social needs for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a particular need to go to the school

(b) Children with a siblings on the school roll at the time of application

(d) Children attending Arlesdene Pre-school.

(e) Any other children in order of date of application. If more children qualify under a particular rule than there are places available, the next rule will be applied. In the case of a tie break, priority will be given to those who live nearest to the nursery as measured in a straight line.

Over-subscription criteria

In the event that we are over-subscribed, the School will ensure that a fair and transparent process is followed:

When a parent or carer makes an application to the School and there is not a place available, the School’s waiting list procedure will be explained fully and a copy of the Admissions Policy sent to the parent or carer.
The waiting list is managed in accordance with the criteria for admissions set out above. The School will advise the parent or carer at the time of application of an approximate timescale before a place becomes available. However this cannot be guaranteed and does not form a binding agreement.
When a place becomes available the parent or carer who is highest on the waiting list will be contacted by telephone and in writing requesting confirmation that the place is still required. If no communication is received from the parent or carer within five working days the next person on the waiting list will be contacted and offered the available place.