Register your child today for a place in Footsteps Nursery!
Flexible, affordable quality wrap around childcare for children, 2-5 years
(7.45am – 6pm)
Located within St Joseph’s Catholic Primary school, near Bracknell town centre, we provide a welcoming, caring and safe place where your child can experiment and have fun, learn from play and grow in confidence. With daily reading and singing times as well as access to a wide range of resources, your child will benefit from many carefully designed activities.
Our highly qualified staff encourage children to explore and be active across our varied facilities which include our extensive indoor setting, covered patio, tarmacked playground and our enclosed woodland area on the school field.
We aim to provide flexible provision and can offer up to 30 hours Nursery places for 2, 3 & 4 year olds between 9am and 3pm, term time only. You can top up these Nursery sessions through using our morning and After School Club which starts as early as 7.45am and finishes at 6pm (these will incur additional charges).
We also offer a nutritious school meal every day for a small charge or alternatively your child can bring in a packed lunch. Healthy snacks are available free of charge throughout the day.
For further information please visit our website to see our virtual tour or contact us on 01355 425246 or email secretary@stjosephsbracknell.co.uk.
Applying for Footsteps Nursery
If your child would like to join Footsteps Nursery you will need to complete a “Register of Interest of Footsteps Nursery” form. This form can be obtained from the School Office or you can download here. Once your form has been received, your child will either be
- offered a place
- placed on the Footsteps waiting list (as you may be waiting for your child to turn three years old) .
Footsteps Nursery only admits children from the age of two years old onwards.
Nursery Funding
15 hours funding
The Government provides funding to all local authorities so that a child can access 15 hours free entitlement for 38 weeks a year at a registered setting from the term after their third birthday. The funding follows the School term dates and is therefore not available during the School holidays.
Footsteps Nursery will claim for the funding from the council on your behalf. This funding is paid to Footsteps Nursery on a termly basis.
We will require a copy of your child’s Birth certificate (or current passport/child Benefit book if Birth certificate is unavailable) to confirm that your child is eligible for the free entitlement. We will also ask you to fill out a parent declaration form each term, that you wish to claim funding.
30 hours funding
In addition to the 15 hours, the Government provides an option for all local authorities so that a child can access 30 hours free entitlement for 38 weeks a year at a registered setting from the term after their third birthday. Again, the funding follows the School term dates and is therefore not available during the School holidays.
Footsteps Nursery will claim for the funding from the council on your behalf. This funding is paid to Footsteps Nursery on a termly basis.
We will require a copy of your child’s Birth certificate (or current passport/child Benefit book if Birth certificate is unavailable) and proof of address (i.e. a utility bill) to confirm that your child is eligible for the free entitlement. In addition to these things we will require your National Insurance Number along with an 11 digit code (which is provided to you by the Inland Revenue). We will also ask you to fill out a parent declaration form each term.
Non-Funded Nursery Sessions
If your child joins Footsteps Nursery
- after their second birthday and before the term after their third birthday
- when your child’s nursery sessions exceed the 15 hours’ worth of free entitlement and you are not entitled to the 30 hours free entitlement
you will receive an invoice on a half termly basis.
We ask that invoices are paid within 14 days of receiving, however if you need to pay on a weekly or monthly basis please make the afternoon secretary aware of this. Invoices can be paid online via ParentMail, cash (exact money please as change cannot be given) or through on-line childcare vouchers.
Nursery Clothing
Although a uniform is not compulsory within Footsteps Nursery; we do have both T-Shirts available to purchase. If you would like your child to wear one, please speak with Mrs. Smith, Footsteps Room Leader. Please allow your child to wear clothes that are easy to undo and fasten, which are easy to wash, and ones that the child will not be too upset about should he/she either get them dirty or wet. Please ensure that your child always has a jacket or coat for outside play and a pair of Wellingtons. Children will play outside in all weathers, so pleases make sure that appropriate clothing is always available. Shoes that are flat, and rubber soled, make it safer for your child to climb.
Parking
To ensure the safety of both the children and adults, parents are not permitted to drive down the School lane (Gipsy Lane) at any time, unless permission is given by Mrs. Dunlop (School Headteacher). Please read more about parking here.
The staff make me feel very welcome and include me in my child’s learning journey
Teachers always greet us in the morning and are always helpful and ready to help
Staff show a genuine interest in my son
For my child: school is one of favourite places, he loves his friends and teachers
Staff have a genuine interest in the children, they get to know them quickly, everyone always has time to discuss things with parents
My child was very excited to go back to ‘school’ after this bank holiday
Teachers are always very approachable and happy to talk to you should you need to
Staff makes you feel welcome, they know the children in their care, they take parent feedback seriously
I really like that parents do not enter the class and that kids need to be independent
Please read our full Feedback from Nursery Questionnaire: