Application and allocation procedures

How the application and allocation procedures work:

  1. Staff and students have separate application forms. These can be found at the bottom of this page.
  1. You will need to print off an application form, and once completed it needs to be returned to the Childcare Services. Please note you cannot apply online — forms must be printed out and signed by hand.  Paper copies are available from the Childcare Services.
  1. The Childcare Services will process your application, allocating the points, which is based on the access criteria (see below), and your application will then be up loaded to a secure online database, accessed by the nursery management.
  1. At this point you will receive correspondence from the Childcare Services, letting you know that you are on the waiting list.  The turnaround is normally no longer than a week from receipt of application.
  1. The nursery is responsible for the allocation of the nursery places. If you are offered a place at one of the nurseries, you will be sent communication via the nursery, which constitutes a formal offer.
  1. You will have ONE WEEK to respond to the offer.
  1. If you do not respond within the one week period, the normal practice will be that the nursery withdraws the offer and the place will be offered to the next eligible parent on the waiting list.
  1. If you refuse or do not respond to three separate offers, your application will be temporarily removed from the waiting list for six months.

Points Criteria

  1. If one or more sibling(s) has a place.
  2. If places are required for twins or triplets.
  3. If child has a registered disability.
  4. Employees returning to work at the University/Cambridge Assessment after maternity/additional paternity/adoption leave.
  5. Applicant has a University contract of employment and payroll number.
  6. If partner is a registered student at the University or works as a College Teaching Officer.
  7. Special personal circumstances (based on information provided by the applicant).

In the event of a tie between 2 or more applicants for 1 place, a University contract of employment and length of service will be the deciding factor for staff.

If you wish to discuss your position on the waiting list we recommend you contact the nursery/ies, as they allocate the places.

There are long waiting lists in place for both nurseries and there is no guarantees that you will get a place, therefore we strongly recommend that you look for alternative childcare.