10 Questions with Our Head of Admissions at Raised in Bristol
Meet Natalie, our Head of Admissions – the friendly face (or voice at the end of the phone) from the Raised In Admissions Team. Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when you apply for a nursery place? Or how the new government funding might affect your childcare options this September? We sat down with Natalie, our brilliant Head of Admissions, to get the inside scoop.
From tips on securing a nursery spot (spoiler: the early bird really does catch the worm!) to busting myths around funding, Natalie shares some helpful tips, little-known info, and even a heartwarming story or two. Whether you're already part of the Raised in family or just starting your nursery hunt, this Q&A is packed with useful info…
1. Let’s start with the basics... Tell us a bit about your role and what you do at Raised In?
I started with Raised in Bristol in June 2018 when our Easton location had just opened. Initially, I was working just 12 hours a week focused on admissions only, but over time, I’ve had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of roles within the business. As the company has grown, so has my role, and I’m now proud to be the Head of Admissions full-time.
In this position, I oversee the entire admissions process, ensuring we meet our goals and continue providing excellent service to our families. It's been an incredible journey, and the growth of both the company and my role reflects just how far Raised ln has come.
2. Big changes are coming in September! Can you explain what the new government funding entitlements mean for families?
From September, working families with children aged 9 months to 5 years can claim 22 funded hours at Raised In nurseries (or 30 hours if it's a term-time-only setting), starting from the term after your child turns 9 months. That means more access to affordable childcare for more families!
To be eligible, you’ll need to meet a few criteria. For example:
You and your partner (if you have one) work at least 16 hours a week on National Minimum Wage
You both earn less than £100k a year
You’ve got a National Insurance number, and the person applying is a British or Irish citizen, or has settled/pre-settled status and/or permission to access public funds
Lots of people don’t realise they may qualify for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP). Nurseries like Raised In can claim this on your behalf and this can cover things like food for your child at nursery, or extra resources — just let them know if you're eligible.
If you already get tax credits, you might be able to add Working Tax Credit to help cover up to 70% of childcare costs for funded 2-year-olds.
Also, if you’re on Universal Credit. You could claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs, and if you’re a student, there’s help to, if you’re in full-time higher education, you can apply for a childcare grant or if you are 20+ and in further education you may qualify for Learner Support.
3. We hear a lot about “tax-free childcare”—do we accept it, and how does it work alongside government funding?
Yeah, this is a great scheme that families can access, and yes, we do accept Tax Free Childcare at our nurseries! It essentially gives you a 20% discount on your nursery costs –the way it works is, the government tops up every £8 you spend with an additional £2 up to the value of £2,000 a year (or up to £4,000 for disabled children). We accept payments for fees via your Tax Free Childcare account.
4. What’s the most common question you get from parents during the admissions process?
With demand for high-quality nursery places increasing year on year, especially in popular areas (like Bristol), our honest answer is... as early as possible! Many of our settings run close to full capacity, and waiting lists can form quickly, particularly for under 2s. The new funding has also increased demand, so we recommend not delaying enquiring for a place.
Parents are often surprised to hear that some families register their interest when they’re pregnant, when the baby is born or shortly after, especially if they have a particular schedule in mind (like returning to work from maternity/paternity leave) and want our more popular days like Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
5. How many nurseries does Raised in Bristol have, and do they all follow the same approach?
We have four amazing Raised in Bristol nurseries across the city. There’s Raised in Bristol at Easton Community Centre, which was our first nursery to open and is based in the community of Easton. Then we have Raised in Bristol at Felix Road Adventure Playground which is just around the corner from Easton Community Centre – both are partnered with Eastside Community Trust. Then we have Raised in Bristol at Docklands Community Centre in St Pauls, which is very close to the city centre, and was our second site to open. It’s based out of The St Pauls Settlement building, run by Full Circle at Docklands. Then, finally, Raised in Bristol at the Greenway Centre in Southmead, which is partnered with Southmead Development Trust.
While our nurseries all share the same ethos and mission, and the Raised In team is one big family, each nursery has its own unique personality and curriculum. This is down to the different communities they're based in and the different teams curating the individual environments in each setting, to ensure they meet the needs and interests of the children.
6. What’s your favourite part of your job as Head of Admissions?
Honestly, it’s the people, both our families and the amazing team I work with every day. Our office has such a strong, supportive vibe, and we genuinely work together to make sure each family’s admissions journey is as smooth and personal as possible.
One of my favourite moments is when we get to call a parent and offer them a place, they’re often so relieved and excited, and it’s lovely to be the one who delivers that good news. We all share in those wins as a team, and there’s a real sense of pride knowing we’ve helped set a child on the path to a happy start.
7. Are there still nursery places available for September, and how can families apply?
Yes, we do still have a limited number of places available for September, but they’re filling up fast!
We know that life is busy and sometimes plans change, so if you’re still looking for a nursery place, don’t worry, it’s not too late to apply. We’d recommend getting in touch as soon as possible so we can talk through your options and check availability across our settings.
Applying is really simple, just visit our website or give us a call, and we’ll guide you through the next steps. Once you’ve filled out an enquiry form, we will book you in for a nursery tour so you can get a real feel for the nursery, meet our wonderful nursery teams and ask any questions in person.
Whether you’re ready to register or just exploring your options, we’re here to help.
8. Raised In is a social enterprise—what does that mean for the families who choose us?
It means that by choosing a Raised in Bristol nursery, families are part of something bigger. We're not just here to provide high-quality childcare (though that’s always our top priority!)—we’re also proud to be a social enterprise, which means we reinvest our profits directly back into local community spaces and the nurseries. So, when families register their child with us, they’re not only giving them the best possible start in life—they’re also helping us support local projects, improve community spaces, and keep childcare accessible for more families.
We work in partnership with community hubs, pay our team fairly, and put people before profit. Every decision we make is guided by our values, care, connection, and community.
For families, it means you’re choosing a nursery that cares not just for your child, also for the place they’re growing up in.
9. What’s one thing you wish every parent knew about nursery funding?
I wish every parent knew that while government funding helps with childcare hours, it doesn’t always cover everything, like meals, snacks, trips, or additional resources.
It’s a really common misconception, and we completely understand, it can be confusing! That’s why we’re always happy to talk it through and explain what’s included and what’s not, based on your child’s age and the type of funding you’re eligible for.
At Raised In, we’re transparent about costs and we work closely with families to build a plan that works for them. Our goal is to make quality childcare as accessible and clear as possible, without any surprises.
If you’re not sure what funding you can get or how it works, just ask, we’re here to help.
10. And finally, a fun one—what’s the best thing you’ve overheard a child say during a nursery tour?
It was a visit from a preschool child who was coming from another nursery...
"I want this to be my nursery!" They’d only just arrived, and it was clear they already felt at home at Raised in Bristol.
If you’d like to get in touch with Natalie or Esme from our Admissions team about a nursery space or with any funding questions, then you can either fill out an enquiry form here for your desired Raised in Bristol nursery, or you can email admissions@raisedin.org.uk or give them a ring on 0800 048 7968
