Admissions to Nursery - September 2023

Children will normally start Nursery in the term following their third birthday.

At Wellington we have 50 part-time places with up to 10 full-time places for those who are eligible. 

All children aged three and four are entitled to 15 hours a week free nursery education during school term times (38 weeks a year), from the term following their third birthday.

If your child was born between 1st September 2019 and 31st August 2020 and you would like a nursery place for September 2023, you must apply online via the eadmissions portal. 

For a guide to using the portal click here.

You can apply for up to three Tower Hamlets nurseries. The closing date is 16th February 2023

If your application was received on or before the closing date, Pupil Services will notify you of the outcome of your application by letter and email. The letter will be sent on 8th May 2023 and will name the nursery at which your child has been offered a place. The email will be sent after 5pm on the same day.

This offer will be for a part-time place only. Once you have been offered a part-time place you may request a full time place from your nursery.

If you have not been offered a place at your chosen nurseries, you will be sent a list of nurseries that still have places remaining and given the opportunity to visit and apply to one of these nurseries. Your child will also be placed on the waiting list for your preferred nursery.

You must accept or decline the offer of a place by 22nd May 2023 so that nursery places can then be reallocated. If you do not reply by 22nd May 2023, the offer will be withdrawn.

The policy and arrangements for admission to Wellington's Nursery are set out by the Local Authority. Click here to download a copy of 'Starting Nursery in Tower Hamlets 2023'.

Funding

Part-time:
All parents are entitled to 15 hours per week i.e. a part-time place, of free early years education for 38 weeks each year. This starts from the first school term after their child’s third birthday and ends when the child reaches compulsory school age i.e. the term after their fifth birthday.

Full-time:
An additional free 15 hours per week i.e. a full-time place, will be available for families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working). Typically each parent must earn at least the national minimum or living wage for 16 hours a week and less than £100,000 a year to be eligible. For more information on eligibility visit this childcare support page.

Only part-time places will be offered as part of this coordinated scheme. Once your child has been offered a part-time place, you may request a full-time place from your nursery. Full-time places will be subject to availability and will depend on the eligibility criteria outlined in the previous paragraph.