Waiting List Management

PLEASE NOTE - THE NURSERY WAITING LISTS ARE LONG AND NO OFFER OF A PLACE CAN BE GUARANTEED.

Your position on the waiting list is determined by a point system based on the following Access Criteria:

Staff Access Criteria

Criteria	Points Score
Applicant holds a University/Cambridge University Press and Assessment contract of employment and payroll number	5
Applicant’s partner working at the University/Cambridge University Press and Assessment (or Homerton College for Chris Abell Nursery only)	5
Applicant and/or applicant’s partner is a CTO or applicant’s partner is a registered student at Cambridge University	3
Applicant is returning to work in the University or Cambridge University Press and Assessment after maternity/shared parental/adoption leave *	7
If one or more siblings currently hold a place	8
If places are required for twins or triplets	8
If child has a disability	7
If places are required for more than one child (of different ages)	3
Waiting List Renewal (each year)	2
If applying for only one of the 4 nurseries, because it is in the area in which you live, the nursery you are applying for must fall into the relevant catchment area to attract the points: Edwinstowe Close – Chaucer Road, Edwinstowe Close, Chaucer Close, South Acre Drive West Cambridge – Charles Babbage Road, JJ Thomson Avenue Eddington – Any accommodation on the Eddington site Chris Abell Nursery - Harrison Drive	2
Special personal circumstances will be considered on an individual basis

* If you are taking maternity/shared paternity/adoption leave, your application will accrue points as detailed above. Please note that when the Childcare Office is notified of your return from the period of leave your score will be readjusted to remove these points 2 months after your return to work date.

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

Please note that the date of your application to the waiting list is not taken into consideration, only the points allocated according to the above criteria will determine your place on the waiting list.

Applicants are advised to inform the Childcare Office of any material changes in their circumstances.

Student Access Criteria

Criteria	Points Score
Applicant is a registered Cambridge University Student	40^**
Applicant’s partner is a student at Cambridge University	5
Applicant’s partner is an employee of the University, Cambridge University Press and Assessment, College Teaching Officer (CTO) (or Homerton College for Chris Abell Nursery only)	3
Student is resuming study after having a baby or adopting a child	7
If one or more siblings currently hold a place	8
If places are required for twins or triplets	8
If child has a disability	7
If places are required for more than one child (of different ages)	3
Waiting List Renewal (each year)	2
If applying for only one of the 3 nurseries available to students, because it is in the area in which you live, the nursery you are applying for must fall into the relevant catchment area to attract the points: West Cambridge – Charles Babbage Road, JJ Thomson Avenue Eddington – Any accommodation on the Eddington site Chris Abell Nursery - Harrison Drive	2
Special personal circumstances will be considered on an individual basis

In the event of a tie between 2 or more applicants for one place, date of application will be the deciding factor.

Applicants are advised to inform the Childcare Office of any material changes in their circumstances.

^**There are 20 FTE places at West Cambridge Nursery, 8 FTE places at Eddington Nursery and 4 FTE places at Chris Abell Nursery for University of Cambridge Students.

Annual Waiting List Renewal

To stay on the waiting list, applicants will need to complete a Waiting List Renewal Form annually and pay a £10 fee (inc. VAT). The renewal will last until the end of the academic year i.e. 30 September. All payments will need to be made via the eSales link: Payment.

Length of time on the waiting list

Unfortunately it is not easy to predict when you might be offered a place. The length of time on the waiting list is subject to lots of variables, such as choice of nursery, age of child, booking pattern requested and date when a place is required. Please note that as places are offered, new parents will also be joining the waiting list.

It is important to note that there are long waiting lists for all four nurseries. It is therefore recommended that parents look into alternative childcare and do not rely solely on getting a place at the University nurseries. See College nurseries and Childcare provision outside of the University for more information.

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