School Information

Governor Information

Admissions

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE

In Milton Keynes the admissions policy for all primary schools operates on a first preference basis. This means that parents must complete a preference form. If you live within the school's defined area the application will be given priority. There is however no guarantee of a place at the school serving the area where you live.

One point of entry

Milton Keynes Council operates a one point of entry policy for children entering school for the first time. This means that all children who are five during the school year i.e. born between 1st September and 31st August will be admitted to school in September after their 5th birthday. Only those children will be admitted to school. Schools will not admit children who are four during the school year with the exception of those with nursery classes.

Children who are born between 1st September and 31st December are admitted to school in the term when they are five. The two terms' prior, when children are eligible for early years' education, will be taken with another provider unless the school has an attached nursery class.

Children who are born between 1st January and 30th April will be admitted to school in the following September following their fourth birthday. The one term prior, when children are eligible for early years education, will be taken with another provider, unless the school has a nursery class.

Children who are born between 1st May and 31st August will be admitted to school in the September following their fourth birthday .

Full or Part Time

Some first or combined schools admit children at one point of entry on a full-time basis from the start of the autumn term. The remainder provide a pattern of part-time and full-time provision. Individual schools will confirm their pattern of admission.

Early Years Provision

Prior to children starting school for the first time they can receive early years education from a range of providers.

Early years' provision is available in the Education Department's nursery schools or classes attached to mainstream first and combined schools or through the Council's day nurseries. Provision is also available through the voluntary and independent sector.

Other Early Years' Provision

If you are interested in other early year's provision, details can be obtained from the Childcare Information Service Tel: 01908 253918

Deferred Entry

Parents may wish to defer their child's admission to later during the school year for one of the following reasons:

• Parents may consider that their child is very young, for example only reaching the age of four before starting school in September
• The child may be attending a private early years' provider for whom the family may have to give a term's notice for the placement or fees, although this ought to be achievable if the school place has been allocated by the end of March.
• The child may have special educational needs. The consensus view may be that a longer place in the early years' provision would be beneficial.
• The child may be attending a full-time early years' provision and parents want continuity when the child starts school. This may be linked with child-care.

Parents must make a normal application by the closing date and include a request for a later starting date e.g. January or April rather than the previous September. In line with DfES guidance it is expected that all places will be taken up during the school year. It is not possible to defer entry to the next school year. Parents must secure a place before the deferred entry request can be considered.

Any concerns about when your child should start school should be discussed with the headteacher. You can also contact the Senior Education Officer – Pupil Support on 01908 253242. If the place is not required during the school year it will be offered to the next child on the waiting list. Parents will need to make a fresh application for their child's entry in the following school year.

Infant Class Size Requirement

There is a legal requirement that infant class sizes may not contain more than 30 pupils. This affects children seeking admission to Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. This means that where the class size limit has been met it may not be possible to provide a place for your child.

APPLYING FOR A SCHOOL PLACE

Starting school for the First Time - For children who will be five between 1st September and 31st August.

Children entering school for the first time will be admitted to school in the September of the academic year in which they become five. Applications are considered during the Spring term. For children born between 1st September and 31st August, an application form must be completed and returned to the preferred school or to the Pupil Support Section at Saxon Court, as early as possible or at the latest by 30th January.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR OVERSUBSCRIBED COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR SEPTEMBER 2006

Places are allocated at community and voluntary controlled primary schools in line with Milton Keynes Council admissions criteria shown below:

• Starting school for the first time
• Transferring at 8+
• Requesting admission during the year eg newly moved into the area
• Children who have a statement of special educational needs. Generally children who live in the school's defined area who also hold a statement of special educational needs will be given priority over other applicants. Where the school has specialist provision not available elsewhere applications will be considered from outside the school's defined area and, if appropriate, places will be allocated
• Children who are Looked After by the Local Authority
• Children who live in the defined area and have a sibling on roll at the school at the time of admission. Proof of residence may be required.
• Children who live in the defined area served by the school. Proof of residence may be required.
• Denominational preference for a Church of England school, supported by evidence that a parent has been for the last year a regular worshipper (at least twice per month) at the relevant local church. Parents should attach a form, available from the C of E school, which must be completed by the priest or minister confirming church commitment.
• Children who live outside the defined area and have a sibling on roll at the school at the time of admission.
• Children who live outside the defined area of the school.

Where the number of applications under any of the criteria at 1 to 7 above exceed the number of available places then a combination of the criteria will be used to allocate places. Alternatively criterion 8 will operate as a tie-breaker to determine the allocation of places. So, for example, if there were 25 applications for 20 places then the 20 children who live the nearest to the school would be offered places. It is important to bear in mind the criteria when completing the application form.

Please note that there is no automatic right of a place at a particular primary school even if there is already a sibling at the preferred ‘out of area' school or your child attends a first school linked to a preferred middle or combined school.

Any Concerns

If parents have any questions or queries about their child’s entry to school, including the timing, they are welcome to contact the school admission office at the council directly.