We are currently accepting applications for September 2024.
Little Owls is our pre-school, it offers a welcoming environment and a free flowing session for the children. Children have access to both the indoor and outdoor areas and are able to choose the activities that they access. We offer adult led activities, small group and child initiated play. We take pride in our Open Door policy and make ourselves available to discuss your child with you when possible. All children within Pre-school are allocated a Key Worker.
We invite children to join Little Owls at the start of the term in which they celebrate their 3rd birthday. We offer morning sessions from 9.00am to 12.00 noon and afternoon sessions from 12.15 to 3.15pm with 20 places in each session. Children can attend either or both sessions from 1 to 5 days a week, subject to availability. For children who are staying all day, we offer a lunchtime session at no additional cost.
Healthy snacks are provided during the morning session. Children will drink water from their water bottles or milk. Milk is provided by an external company and will need to be ordered. Children who are staying all day and those who are attending an afternoon session sit together to eat a packed lunch provided from home.
Children can stay in Little Owls until they start in Reception, or can move up into our Elf Owls in the term after their 4th birthday, places permitting.
Although children can join mid-term if sessions are available, most start at the beginning of a new term. We start allocating places at the beginning of the previous half-term. If there are more applications than places available, the criteria detailed in our Admissions Policy, which is on our website, will be applied. We will write to you confirming the sessions that we are able to offer; and if we cannot offer all the sessions you would like, your details will be placed on a waiting list.
Attendance at Little Owls does not guarantee a place in Reception. The formal admissions procedure for children starting in our Reception class is carried out by Central Bedfordshire Council. Further details and an on-line application form are available at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/admissions. You must complete and return the form to the council by the required date. We advise you to keep copies of the form and, if you apply online, to keep copies of all emails. Lower school places are allocated in the spring and you should receive notification by late April.
All 3 and 4 year old children are entitled to free childcare for up to 15 hours per week. The Government offers a total of 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds for working parent/carers who meet specific criteria. Further guidance can be found on the government and Central Bedfordshire’s websites www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/12/childcare/115/help_with_childcare_costs/3
Non-funded hours are charged at £4.50 per hour, £13.50 for a 3 hour session. Please note that current prices are under review and are subject to change.
If you would like your child to attend Little Owls, please contact the school via email Pre-school@southcottlower.cbeds.co.uk or complete and return the booking form below indicating all the sessions that you would like your child to attend. A copy of the form is also available from the School Office.