Welcome to Wardle Scout Group!
Our Squirrel Scouts section is a lively, nurturing, and fast-growing part of our Scouting community for children aged 4–6. To ensure a safe and positive experience for every child, we operate a waiting list when places are limited.
This policy explains how we manage that list fairly and how we decide who can join and when.
🧒 Who Can Join?
We welcome children from age 4 into our Squirrel Drey.
We only offer places to children who are already 4 and who are independent in using the toilet.
⚖️ How We Prioritise Places
To build a well-balanced and sustainable Squirrel Drey, we consider the following:
✅ Age Balance
We aim for a good mix of 4-, 5-, and nearly 6-year-olds to support smooth progression through the section and into Beavers.
➡️ We avoid taking too many children of the same age at one time to maintain this balance.
✅ Progression and Experience
We want children to have enough time in Squirrels to settle in, make friends, enjoy the full programme, and earn key badges like the Chief Scout’s Acorn Award before moving on.
✅ Capacity
We cap our Squirrel Drey at 16 children.
This ensures each child receives the attention and support they need, and that our transition into Beavers remains steady and manageable.
✅ Leader Availability
The number and experience of adult volunteers impacts how many children we can welcome. We also consider any additional support needs in the group to make sure we can give every child the best possible experience.
🎯 Waiting List Priorities
When a space becomes available, we offer it based on the following priorities:
- Children of active adult volunteers in the group
- Siblings of young people already in Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, or Scouts within Wardle Scout Group
- Children living locally (closest to the meeting place)
- Date of joining the waiting list (when all other factors are equal)
📬 How to Join the Waiting List
To register your child’s interest:
➡️ https://www.wardlescouts.org.uk/contact/joining-enquiry/
You’ll receive confirmation once they’ve been added to the list.
Please note: being on the waiting list does not guarantee a place.
🔄 Ongoing Review
We check our waiting list regularly. If your child hasn’t been offered a place within 12 months, we’ll contact you to ask if you’d like them to remain on the list.
