On this page we summarise information for The Meadows. For more details please see our Registration Information Booklet click here
The Centre aims to offer a seamless service of education, childcare and support for children aged 0-5 years and their families together with training and support for practitioners across the district.
The Centre celebrates diversity, is committed to the inclusion of all and uses a problem solving approach to meet individual needs.
Registration Procedure
Please call in to the Centre to register your child.
- If you wish to register your child for a place in The Meadows, or wish to find out more, please speak to the administration staff in reception.
- Registration may be made from your child's 2nd birthday - please bring along their birth certificate.
- The Senior staff offer a tour of the Meadows each month, answering any questions you may have.
- Places are offered on a termly basis.
- You will be invited to visit the Meadows weekly with your child for 4 weeks before taking up her/his place.
Please contact us to register and to arrange a tour.
Admission to The Meadows for 3 - 5 year olds
The Meadows is the maintained Nursery School aspect of The Ambleside Centre.
Families living within the Wokingham Borough Council area are eligible to apply for a place at The Ambleside Centre. However, families intending to send their child to a primary/infant school that has an attached nursery are urged to use that nursery.
Five sessions a week are offered and these will be either 5 mornings or 5 afternoons.
Registration to the waiting list is taken after a child's 2nd birthday.
Places will be offered in the following order of priority:
- Children who live in the Wokingham borough and have a special educational need or disability
- Children with a hearing impairment whose Statement of Educational Needs names The Ambleside Centre Hearing Impaired resource as the appropriate placement.
- Children who attend the Pastures Nursery during the term in which they reach their third birthday
- Children living within the Woodley RG5 postcode area
- Children of other families in the Wokingham Borough
Children are eligible for government funded early education and care from the term following their 3rd birthday until the September following their 5th birthday. We strongly recommend that children spend as long as possible in one setting. Two terms is the absolute minimum time to attend The Ambleside Centre, although it is preferable for children to attend for at least 3 terms. The exception to this is when families have moved from outside the area.
Children take up their place in the 3-5s area of The Ambleside Centre soon after the beginning of the autumn, spring or summer term. From 2011 there could be restricted availability for the summer term (April to July) as children will no longer be leaving the nursery at the end of March to go to Primary school. Places may be available at other times after consultation with the Head of Centre.
The government provides funding for early education places for 3 and 4 year old children. If a child has a place with a local education authority provider, such as The Ambleside Centre, funding is paid into the nursery's budget. This means there is no additional government funding for the child to attend any other pre-school provision.
From September 2010 the government will fund 15 hours of early education offered flexibly across the week for all 3 and 4 year olds for 38 weeks per year.
As a step towards this offer, local authorities are required to make the offer available to 25% of the 3 and 4 year olds within the Borough. We have been selected to be in this first roll out. Therefore, from September 2009 children will be able to have 15 hours of funded early education per week in the Meadows.
You need to select the sessions you would prefer, indicating a second choice.
The government's rules about the times/sessions are:
- You must take the hours over at least 3 days per week and 38 weeks per year.
- You must take at least 2 hours in any 1 day.
Sessions are available as below:
| 8.00-8.30am | 8.30-9.00am | 9.00-11.30am | 11.30-12.30pm | 12.30-3.00pm | 3.30-4.00pm | 4.00-6.00pm |
So you could start at 8.00, 8.30, 9.00, 11.30, 12.30 or 3.00 and finish at 11.30, 12.30, 3.00, 3.30, 4.00 or 6.00.
Food: If attending at 8.00 am, you can purchase breakfast at 85p.
If attending 11.30 am to 12.30 pm, you can purchase a hot meal (currently 1.90) or provide a packed lunch.
If attending 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm, you can purchase tea (1.00).
If you wish to discuss your options, please speak to a member of the administration team.
Additional sessions may be purchased. The charges are available upon request. Please indicate the sessions you wish to purchase on the Session Request Form.
Contact Details
At The Meadows we:
- are a strong dedicated team of professionals
- believe learning is best achieved when parents, children and staff work together as partners
- develop children's confidence and belief in themselves as learners
- trust children to take risks, be creative and to succeed
- listen to children and parents
- constantly work to find better ways to meet children's needs
- work with other professionals to support children and families
- share our expertise with others
The Early Years Foundation Stage framework is covered using a carefully laid out learning environment indoors and outdoors.
For further information regarding the Early Years Foundation Stage at the Ambleside Centre click here
The indoor area is acoustically treated to assist hearing.
Each child has a key-worker who monitors and supports his/her progress and plans next steps.
Through play and with adult support children follow their interests, take risks, solve problems, make friends and have a lot of fun.
Parents are essential partners and are encouraged to be fully involved.
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