Frequently Asked Questions

What is the adult to child ratio in Nursery?

We are renowned for our small class sizes and outstanding pastoral care, and this starts with our youngest pupils in Nursery. Officially, a Nursery teacher can be with 13 pupils, but we try wherever possible to ensure a higher staff to pupil ratio where we can. Our average class size in Early Years this year is 11 pupils.

What are the Nursery fees? How are these paid?

Our Nursery fees are very competitively priced and, importantly, include wrap around care from 7.45am-5.00pm daily. You can see our comprehensive fee breakdown here.

Our fees also include all Forest School sessions.

Fees are paid by the term, and can be broken down into 10 monthly instalments across the academic year. A personal fee illustration is available for your family upon request.

Am I able to use my 15 hours of Free Early Education Entitlement at Teesside High?

Of course. The Nursery fee stated here is based on full-time attendance, and includes 15 hours Early Years funding. If you wish to see a pro-rata equivalent for three or four full days, please contact our finance department.

Please note, Teesside High School does not offer 30 hours free childcare.

Do you offer funding for 2 year olds?

Yes, 15 hours Early Years funding is available from the start of the term your child turns three. For example, if your child turns three in March, they can join our Nursery from January that year and funding will apply throughout. Please note, for this term you are required to provide a funding code from gov.uk

If you have any queries regarding how the funding is applied or what you are eligible for, please get in touch with our admissions team who will be more than happy to help.

What is the minimum number a sessions a week children can attend for?

Six sessions, which is equivalent to three full days, or a combination of your choosing. One session is one morning, or one afternoon, so children can attend for one full day and four further mornings, for example.

If my child is part-time, what will they miss out on compared to children who attend full-time?

Planning is done very carefully to ensure all curriculum objectives are covered for all children. All children experience a balanced and broad curriculum which meets their academic needs, but those children who attend five days rather than three days will naturally experience more and have more opportunity to develop further. To help the transition to full time school, many parents choose to increase sessions each term or quicker, depending on each individual.

Where will my child eat lunch? What food do you serve?

All THS pupils eat lunch in our beautiful Dining Hall – which was refurbished extensively in 2021. We offer a fantastic and varied lunch menu, and Early Years parents are invited to choose their child’s lunch each day via an online ordering form, circulated each week.

Any further queries? Please let us know via admissions@teessidehigh.co.uk