Early education in our Acorns Preschool

At St Francis of Assisi, the youngest members of our school community learn and develop through creative play, in a happy, safe and inclusive environment. Based in Biddenham in Bedford, we are pleased to be able to offer a dedicated Early Years Zone with outdoor learning spaces and newly renovated indoor areas to support  children’s development. Our youngest children are encouraged to explore the setting and different learning environments to become curious learners. This includes caring for our school guinea pigs, Paul and Ron, if children wish to do so!

​​All children aged 3 and 4 receive 15 hours of early education per week for 38 weeks a year, for free, from the government. We offer places to children once they turn 3 years old. In some cases, we can provide childcare for children who are aged 2 years and 9 months, if the family has a relevant childcare code. 

15 hours of funded childcare:

Sessions are discussed with families at the point of admission. Sessions are across 5 mornings or 5 afternoons:

Morning session	Afternoon session
8.30am – 11.30am	12.30pm – 3.30pm.

30 hours of funded childcare:

Some families are eligible to receive 30 hours of funded education via the government. To check to see if you are eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare, please click here. Sessions are across 4 full days and a morning session on a Friday, as per below. 

Monday - Thursday	Friday
8.30am – 3.30pm	8.30am – 11.30am.

Additional childcare:

Extra childcare outside funded eligibility is available on a half-term basis only by completing a commitment order with the school office. A copy can also be viewed below. Charges for additional sessions are £20 per session.

Morning Session = 8.30am – 12.30pm (4 hours)

Afternoon Session = 11.30am – 3.30pm (4 hours)

Additional charges

The charges above are for childcare only. Any additional items your child may require, such as nappies and wipes, will need to be provided in a named bag. Water and healthy snacks are provided for all children free of charge.

If your child attends all day and you would like your child to have a school dinner, this will need to be booked via your My Child at School (MCAS) app at a cost of £2.50 per meal.  More information about school lunches and to view our menus, please click here. 

To make an application for our Acorns Preschool, please click here.

Or, scan the QR code below:

A member of our admission team will be in touch soon after you have submitted your application. 

Uniform 

We expect our children to look smart and take pride in their appearance at all times, and we ask that our families support the uniform requirements. Our school uniform has been designed with comfort in mind along with affordability. More information about our Preschool uniform can be found below or by clicking here.

Come and meet us

We encourage you to come and visit to get a true feel for what it is like to be part of our school community where everyone is valued and celebrated. If you would like a personal tour of our school, to meet our staff and visit our Early Years Zone during the school day, please call the school office on 01234 352062 or get in touch via email office@sfoa.beds.olicatschools.org to arrange a time. 

We look forward to welcoming you!