Saplings Pre-School & Nursery
Saplings, our fantastic pre-school, welcomes children from the age of two onwards.
Children learn and play in our purpose-built nursery, with their own dedicated playground. Our experienced and nurturing staff provide a fun and stimulating environment for them to explore, with a mix of free and structured sessions to build children's confidence and independence, and help them to develop key personal, social and academic skills.
A school nursery is a fantastic way to introduce your child to a school setting and foster a love of learning that will last a lifetime. We offer fully funded places for eligible families, as well as self-funded options.
If you would like to visit Saplings, please contact the school office to arrange a visit, if you have any questions, or need help completing the form below.
Nursery
Most children will join a nursery class in the September of the year before they start at school in Reception. All children qualify for a free, 15-hour place and families where both parents are working may qualify for 30 hours (see below). At Martins Wood, we offer a teacher-led 15 and 30 hour-places.
The nursery at Martins Wood School has enjoyed a strong reputation for many years. It is a well-equipped, purpose built unit which has an enclosed outdoor space and access to a larger play space which is shared with reception aged children.
Parents may obtain an application form directly from the school or download the expression of interest form below. We will allocate places as we receive applications and add names to a reserve list if all places are taken.
Funded Places
At Martins Wood, we offer teacher-led 15 and 30-hour places.
Children can start in Saplings from the term after their second birthday. Some tow year old may qualify for funded places.
All three-year-olds qualify for a free 15-hour place the term after their third birthday. Some families may qualify for 30 hours free early years provision per week. If you're not eligible for this funding, you can pay for additional hours. Please contact the school office for more information.
Our typical options are:
- Option A- 15 hours morning only session.
- Option B- 15 hours afternoon only session.
- Option C- 30 hours all day session
Option C will be 9am to 3.30pm each day, including lunch club (parents need to provide a packed lunch). This is six and a half hours each day, which means that funding runs out at lunchtime on Friday.
Nursery children can also access Treetops (our popular before and after-school club), as a paid for additional option, once they are 4.
If you are not eligible for 30 hours free, additional hours can be purchased. Speak to the office for more information.
You can check your eligibility for free childcare and find out more through the following links: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk (eligibility codes available here) or www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/parents where you will also find details of another scheme which may benefit working parents whose children are not yet three. We are registered for this scheme which could mean that you get a tax break on childcare fees.