What we offer
Funded Entitlement Nursery Places
We operate as a North Northamptonshire Local Education Authority Nursery, providing funded education for two, three and four year olds in the neighbourhood.
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. To see if you qualify for two year old funding go to the childcare choices website.
Where a single parent earns the equivalent of 16 hours at the minimum wage, or where both co-habiting parents earn this amount they are entitled to 30 hours free childcare each week for children from the term after their second birthday. To check your eligibility please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
The fifteen hour sessions for two and three year olds are term time, either:
- each morning (8.30 to 11.30am),
- each afternoon (12.30 to 3.30pm) or
- 2 days (8:00am-3:30pm or 8:30-4:00pm)
We have found that those attending 5 sessions a week tend to settle more quickly and build more secure friendships than those attending for 2 full days, so it would always be our preference to provide these spaces in the first instance. However, we are aware that some parents are unable to accommodate this. Therefore, in certain situations, we will try to offer 2 full days as an alternative to mornings or afternoons.
Our larger room places are limited to 64 children each morning and 64 children each afternoon. Spaces in our Teddy Bear Room for younger two year olds are limited to 12 children each morning and 12 children each afternoon.
Children who attend Ronald Tree transfer to most of the 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 an extended day to parents including; breakfast club (8am-8.30), afterschool club (3.30pm to 4.30pm) or extra sessions if spaces allow. All additional hours above the funded entitlement are charged at a core rate of £5.50 per hour from 1 April 2024.
If parents work for more than 16 hours per week at the minimum wage they may be eligible for 30 hours funded childcare from the term after your child's 2nd birthday. 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 are a popular, busy nursery. While we will always try our best, it cannot be assumed that children will be able to move from 15-30 hours mid-year.
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 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).
Qualified Teaching Staff
The nursery staff team is led by the head teacher, Deb Thwaites and the nursery teacher, Jackie Wilson.
Early Years Practitioners, who are known collectively as Key Workers, Early Years Assistants and Nursery workers complete the team.
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.
The key worker staff are allocated to particular rooms, the Teddy Bear Room (for two year olds), The Tiger Room (for those children with significant learning differences) and the Gruffalo and Elmer Rooms (for the three and four year olds). Children are based in these rooms but the Gruffalo and Elmer children mix when in the outside areas. All the staff employed in the nursery are qualified and receive regular training and updates. All staff have DBS enhanced clearance and the majority have paediatric first aid qualifications.
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 £3.00 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 tec however, this is voluntary. 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 online registration form. Thank you.