We're delighted you're considering our Nursery, Pine Class, for your child. This page covers everything you need to apply: funded places, hours, costs, and the application process.

At a Glance

Essential information about joining our Nursery:

• For children aged 3 and 4 – your child must turn 3 by 31 August to start that September
• Part-time or full-time places available
• Term-time only, with one main intake in September
• Some January places for children who turn 3 between September and December, if we have space
• Government-funded hours, plus paid sessions where there's space
• Wraparound care until 3:30pm or 4:00pm for an extra charge
• Applications open in September 2026 for a September 2027 start

About Nursery Places

Every 3- and 4-year-old can receive 15 hours of government-funded early education a week. This is a universal entitlement – it doesn't depend on how much you earn or how many hours you work, and it's available from the term after your child turns 3. 

Working parents who meet the eligibility criteria can access 30 hours a week instead of the universal 15. Beyond your funded hours, you can also buy additional sessions where places allow.

15-Hour Part-Time Options

Choose either:

• Five mornings: 8:45–11:45am, Monday to Friday
• Two and a half days: Two full days (8:45am–3:00pm) plus one morning (8:45–11:45am)

Each full day counts as six funded hours, so two full days plus a morning make 15 (and five full days make 30).

30-Hour Full-Time Places

Full-time places run 8:45am–3:00pm, Monday to Friday, for eligible families.

If you need it, you can also pay for wraparound care until 3:30pm or 4:00pm.

Who qualifies for a 30-hour place:

• Your child must be 3 or 4 years old
• You and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum or Living Wage. This includes single parents, those on zero-hours contracts, and the self-employed
• You and your partner must each have an adjusted net income of less than £100,000 per year. This limit applies to each parent individually, not to your combined household income – so a couple who each earns under £100,000 can still qualify

Check whether you qualify for 30 hours before you apply.

How 30-hour funding works:

• Apply for 30-hour funding on GOV.UK, then send us your eligibility code – we'll confirm your place as soon as we have it
• Reconfirm your eligibility with HMRC every three months to keep your funding going
• If your eligibility lapses, you'll keep your place – it just moves back to 15 hours
• If your code runs out while you're reapplying, we can't hold the extra hours in the meantime, so it's worth reconfirming in good time

Additional Paid Sessions

Where places allow, you can buy extra sessions on top of your funded hours, including wraparound care.

For current session times, prices, and availability, contact our school office – they'll talk through the options that fit your family.

Applying for a Place

Applications open in September for the following September's places. The application deadline is in spring, and we send offers out in April. Your child must turn 3 by 31 August to start that September.

When you're ready, fill in our online Nursery Application Form. We’ll be in touch in April to let you know if your child has a place. 

Before you accept, we'll ask for a copy of your child's birth certificate. If you're applying for a 30-hour place, we'll also ask for your eligibility code.

Starting in January: if your child turns 3 between September and December, they may be able to start the following January, once their funded entitlement begins. We sometimes have space for this – just let us know on your application form.

Application Priority

We follow a priority order when allocating places:

1. Looked-after children and previously looked-after children
2. Children with additional needs (SEND) and children in need
3. Siblings of children already at the school

After these groups, places are allocated by application date, on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on how we prioritise applications, see our full Nursery Admissions Policy under Governance & Operations on our Policies page.

After You Apply

If we offer your child a place, we'll email you. Please add our email to your safe senders list and keep your contact details up to date with the school office, so you don't miss anything important.

Once your place is confirmed, we'll send you information on preparing for your child's first day, including details about our welcome evening and stay-and-play sessions. You'll find everything on our Starting Nursery page.

Need Help?

Funding queries: Bristol City Council Family Information Service can help with eligibility, codes, and funding. Email askcyps@bristol.gov.uk or call 0117 357 4192.

Admissions questions: Contact our school office at seftonpark@bristol-schools.uk or call 0117 377 3290. We're here to help throughout the process.

We can't guarantee places or specific sessions, but we'll do our best to find an arrangement that works for your family.