All Day Nursery Provision and Flexible Hours Offer

We admit children to our school from the age of three years.  Most children start nursery the term after they turn three, but some families may be able to send their child to our nursery from their third birthday.  Click here for more information on our Rising Three Offer.

Our school nursery is open from 8.30am to 3.00/3.15pm. We offer families the option of full-time nursery provision or flexible part-time hours (see below). 

For families who also need childcare before and after school hours, our nursery provision can be combined with attendance at our breakfast and after-school club called ‘The Copse’, which operates from 7.15-8.30am in the morning, and 3.00-6:00pm in the evening. 

By using these provisions in combination, your child will experience fewer transitions between providers throughout the day and offer them continuity and consistency in approach.  There is an additional cost for The Copse service.  Please click here for more information.

Flexible Nursery Hours

We are delighted to offer a more flexible way for families to access their child’s nursery entitlement. 

How can families access nursery provision?

• All families of children in the mainstream nursery age bracket are entitled to 15 hours of free universal nursery provision. 
• Some families will also be eligible for an additional 15 hours of free nursery provision through the government’s Childcare Choices scheme.  This means you can access up to 30 hours of funded provision per week in our nursery if you provide us with a valid eligibility code within the government's defined timescales - please see the government's Childcare Choice Website for more information and to apply for a code.
• Families are also able to pay the school directly for additional nursery hours/sessions.

Subject to availability, families can choose how their child’s eligible hours are spread across the school week, but these must fit within our school hours of 8.30am - 3.00/3.15pm.  For example:

1. Morning or afternoon only using your 15 hours of free universal entitlement (5 x 3 hour nursery sessions, Monday to Friday 8.30-11.30am or Monday to Friday 12.15-3.15pm).
    
2. A mixture of morning, afternoon and/or all-day sessions
   1. Using your 15 hours of free universal entitlement (two full days or one full day and two half-day sessions).
   2. Using your 15 hours of free universal entitlement and paying for any further hours, up to five full days of nursery provision.
      The additional charge will be at the rate of £12 per hour, but please note that children must attend whole sessions, 8.30-11.30am; 12.15-3.00/3.15pm; or 8.30am -3.00/3.15pm.
   3. Full-time nursery using your child’s 15 hours of free universal entitlement and combining this with the additional 15 free hours available via the government's Childcare Choices scheme to access up to 5 full days of nursery provision (Monday to Friday 8.30am - 00/3.15pm).
      There will be an additional charge of £30 per week to account for the additional hours (over 30 hours) your child attends our nursery.
3. Unplanned sessions.  Any family whose child already attends our nursery may request their child to attend additional nursery sessions on a week-by-week basis and these will be agreed based upon spaces being available and after receipt of payment (which must be made at the time of booking). The charge will be at the rate of £12 per hour, and all children must attend a whole session. 

The above options are subject to availability. 

Requests for flexible nursery places can be made to our admissions officer via admissions@hillcross.merton.sch.uk and this will be confirmed after your child's place in our nursery has been confirmed by the Local Authority, and we have received a valid Childcare Choices eligibility code (if applicable).  

Payment Terms

Payments to account for additional hours must be made in advance on a half-term or monthly basis and refunds are not available for any sessions missed.  We do accept childcare vouchers.

Terms and Conditions

• Once your child’s nursery session attendance has been agreed, this will remain in place for the duration of the child’s time in the nursery unless a change is requested by the family (and for families making use of the Childcare Choices scheme, eligibility codes are presented as required). 
• Requests for changes for the following term must be made no later than the end of the half-term prior to when the change is due to start, e.g. by the end of February half-term for a change in usage in the summer term.
• We cannot guarantee that we will be able to agree to everyone’s requests straight away. If we are able to accommodate a family's preferred option, they will be notified in writing via email.  We will liaise with any families whose first preference we cannot meet to see if we can find an alternative pattern that suits them.  
• If we are oversubscribed for all-day nursery places, they will be allocated using the below criteria:
  • Existing nursery children with a 15-hour universal place
  • Looked after children
  • Children with a sibling in attendance at the main school
  • Child of a staff member
  • Distance to school from home address

• These offers are available during term time. However, we do provide a holiday club for children who attend our school. 

If you have any questions with regard to a nursery place at Hillcross for your child, please call our school office (0208 542 6936) or email  info@hillcross.merton.sch.uk.

For more information about the extended entitlement offer, please click on the link to the Merton website Early education for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds.