Schools and learning

What can you do now?

We are sorry that you have not been offered your preferred nursery place. There are some steps that you can now take. Places do become available at some oversubscribed nurseries, and this varies from year to year. If you have any questions or need further help please contact our Customer Service Centre.

Quick guide to options available

These options can all be done at the same time:

1 Accept the nursery place you have been offered by 25 April 2008
2 Ask to go on the continuing interest list by 25 April 2008
3 Request a pupil audit report from 10 April 2008

More information about next steps is contained in this leaflet.

Next steps are simple at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions

If you applied online for a nursery place you can:
• print a copy of your allocation reply form online (if you lose the one we send you) and return it to the nursery at which your child has been offered a place by 25 April 2008
• register a continuing interest for community and voluntary-controlled nurseries until 25 April 2008
• view your updated position on the continuing interest list approximately every two weeks from week commencing 12 May 2008
• view a summary of your pupil audit report.

All parents/carers can:
• request a pupil audit report
• request a list of Hertfordshire maintained nurseries with places
• view or download the Starting Nursery booklet, and get further information about nurseries’ admission rules and contact details.

What can you do now? Information about next steps

1 Accept the nursery place you have been offered by 25 April 2008

• Fill out the allocation reply form and send it to the nursery at which your child has been offered a place by 25 April 2008.

• If you do not accept the nursery place and do not respond to our letter, we will give you reasonable notice, and the offer of a nursery place will be withdrawn.

You can accept the place even if you want to apply for continuing interest.

2 Ask to go on the continuing interest list by 25 April 2008

You can register a continuing interest in up to three community and voluntary-controlled nurseries. These can be different from the nurseries you listed on your nursery application form.

• If you applied online, register a continuing interest online until 25 April 2008 (online facility is only available until this date) OR

• Fill out the paper form at the back of this leaflet and return it by 25 April 2008.

If you register a continuing interest after 25 April 2008 your application will not be included the first time we run the continuing interest process but will be included in further rounds.

If you would like to register a continuing interest in a voluntary-aided or foundation nursery, please contact the nursery direct.

3 Request a pupil audit report from 10 April 2008

A pupil audit report shows you how we have applied the rules to your applications to community and voluntary-controlled nurseries. You can request a copy online or from the Customer Service Centre. Voluntary-aided and foundation nurseries should be able to provide you with similar information; please contact the school direct.

Some answers to common questions

Which Hertfordshire nurseries have places?
You can view a full list of nurseries with places online, or you can contact the Customer Service Centre and request that a copy be sent to you.

What if my circumstances have changed?
If you have had a change of circumstances (for example, you have moved house or have some new evidence to support a claim that your child has a social or medical need to attend a certain nursery), please write to the address at the top of your allocation letter, providing details and evidence. If you are not sure what information to send in, please contact our Customer Service Centre.

A panel of officers will meet to consider any claims that a child has a particular medical or social need to go to the nursery. A child can only be admitted under this rule if a place becomes available at the nursery.

How do I find out about the progress of my child’s continuing interest application?
We will write to you week commencing 12 May 2008 to let you know your child’s position on the continuing interest list, or at any point if your child is successful in gaining a place at one of the nurseries. We run the continuing interest process approximately every two weeks from mid-May to June 2008. If you have registered a continuing interest online you can view your up-to-date position at any time. All parents can request an update by calling the Customer Service Centre. We will write to all parents/carers at the end of the continuing interest process.

How do I know if the nursery is a community, voluntary-controlled, voluntary-aided or foundation nursery?
The Starting Nursery booklet, which can be viewed online, shows each nursery’s type. Hertfordshire County Council manages continuing interest lists and produces pupil audit reports for all community and voluntary-controlled nurseries. The governing bodies of voluntary-aided and foundation nurseries are responsible for continuing interest lists for these nurseries.

Contacting us for advice and support

01438 737500 Customer Service Centre
01923 471500 if you are calling from 01923 and 0208 area codes
01438 737599 textphone (for deaf and hard of hearing people only)

The lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays. Our team of advisers is able to answer most enquiries. If not, you will be put in contact with staff in your local office.

Email
You can contact us via email at hertsdirect@hertscc.gov.uk or via our online contact form on the website at www.hertsdirect.org

Local Admissions and Transport teams
If you need to write to your local Admissions and Transport team, please write to one of the addresses below. Check the map to see where your local team is located.

Admissions & Transport team
East 1
Old Grammar School,
Broadway, Letchworth
Hertfordshire SG6 3QG

Admissions & Transport team
East 2
County Hall, Hertford
Hertfordshire SG13 8DF

Admissions & Transport team
West
Apsley One, Brindley Way
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire HP3 9BF