Statement

At Play English we admit children from the age of 12 months old up to the age of 36 months old, regardless of gender, social status, ethnicity, linguistic or cultural background. We aim to meet the needs of each individual child and provide a quality bilingual educational programme.

Procedures

The school will admit children both at the beginning and during the course of the school year provided there are vacant places in the respective age groups.
For all school families there are set enrolment dates as stated in our school calendar.
All siblings have priority of places ahead of new families.
All children are placed in the relevant Grade levels, according to their chronological age, unless there are special circumstances which will be discussed and agreed upon with the child’s family prior to enrolment.
An assessment of the child’s/family’s needs and family’s expectations will be carried out prior to admission to ensure that our school structure, organisation, educational philosophy, provision and resources will offer the child and his/her family the best educational experience possible.
The Head Teacher will consult with the relevant staff members during the admission process. The family will be informed of the school’s decision within a week of their application for enrolment.
Upon confirmation of admission the family will have to complete all necessary enrolment procedures and fulfil all the necessary financial obligations within three working days. Following this the school will inform the family of the date the child will start school.

Class size and structure

The school aims to maintain the following class sizes and pupil-adult ratios:
Day Nursery (1 to 3 years old) : max 20 children adult / child ratio

1 : 6 for ages 1 to 2

1 : 8 for ages 2 to 3

N.B. . According to the National schools admission regulations, schools are allowed to enrol an extra 10% of pupils in order to make up for daily pupil absences. This may imply that although more children may be on register in each class, the established school adult-child ratio should almost always be maintained.

Admissions by age

Children 1 to 3 years of age are admitted to our Day Nursery as follows :

a) In the 1 – 2 year group in Day Nursery: children who are 1 year of age by the start of September and will turn 2 before the end of August for that academic year.

b) In the 2 – 3 years old group in Day Nursery: children who are 2 years of age before the start of September and will turn 3 before the end of August for that academic year.

Home visits

As part of our admissions procedure we organise a home visit for all Day Nursery children prior to them attending our school. The home visits are a requirement for enrolment. Both Day Nursery members of staff will visit the child in their home environment. The appointments are organised by the school office.

“Settling In” Process

We recognize that when children enter Play English for the first time, they need support to help them feel a sense of belonging and a sense of security. We devote the early weeks of the child’s experience to gradually releasing parent participation in the school day.
Young children exhibit varying levels of comfort with a transition to a full school day. The process that is outlined below is meant to be flexible according to the child’s individual needs, but it provides an idea of how we generally support children during the “settling in” process.

First week
Day 1: 9.30-10.30 with mum
Day 2: 9-11 with mum
Day 3: 9-11 with mum, she leaves for 10 minutes during that time
Day 4: 9-11 with mum, she leaves for 30 minutes during that time
Day 5: 9-11 with mum, she leaves for one hour during that time

Second week
Day 1: 9-11 with mum, she leaves for 1,5 hours
Day 2: 9-11 child by him or herself
Day 3: 9-12.15 child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch
Day 4: 9-12.15 child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch
Day 5: 9-12.15 child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch

Third week
Day 1: Child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch
Day 2: Child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch
Day 3: Child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch
Day 4: Child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch
Day 5: Child stays all morning by him or herself and stays for lunch

Fourth Week
Day 1: Child stays for nap
Day 2: Child stays for nap
Day 3: Child stays for nap
Day 4: Child stays for nap
Day 5: Child stays for nap

Criteria for admitting children

· Parents should pay the school’s fees and do so by the published deadlines.
· Parents have read and understood and signed the school/teacher/child agreement and will support the school in its work with their child/ren.
· Parents accept all the terms and conditions as explained in the relevant school documentation.
· Places in each group (other than siblings) will be filled on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

Pupils may be refused admission if:

· The relevant class is full.
· If the school is unable to meet the educational needs of the child.

N.B.1 The school may offer to admit the child on the basis that an individual support assistant be appointed. The cost of this assistant will be met entirely by the parents.
N.B.2 4 Week Assessment Period
When a new child/ren start attending our school, during their first month of school, they will all be observed and assessed both formally and informally, by their Italian and English class teachers. During this period the teachers will be able to assess whether the placement of your child is appropriate and beneficial, socially and academically. This period of time allows the teachers to make a professional and well informed decision regarding future arrangements for your child/ren’s education. We strongly believe that each child be treated as an individual and all our staff are trained to address the teaching and learning to the needs of all children. Each child is placed in the class where the educational provision best serves his/her needs. The class teachers will meet with the parents and Coordinator/Head Teacher to discuss how the child has settled and feedback their observations and assessments. Only at this point will a joint decision be made to move a child from his/her age.