Applying to Start Primary School 2018–19
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Applying to start primary school 2018–19 Contents Applying online 2 Important dates 3 Applying for a Reception place 4 Primary school starting age 4 Deciding which primary schools to apply for 4 Visiting schools 4 Admissions criteria 4 How the preference system works 8 How to apply 9 Supplementary information forms 10 Last year’s application and appeal rates (community schools) 10 Applying for a Reception place after the closing date – 15 January 2018 12 National Offer Day – 16 April 2018 12 Appeals 13 Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities 14 Transferring from an infant to junior school in Lewisham 14 Primary schools in Lewisham 15 Useful contacts 22 Map of primary schools in Lewisham 23 Contact: Admissions and Appeals Team, Third Floor, Laurence House, Catford SE6 4RU. Tel: 020 8314 8282 (lines are open Monday-Friday, 9am-12 noon). Email: [email protected] Deadline for online applications 11.59pm 15 January 2018 Applying to start primary school 2018–19 Information about admissions arrangements 2 This reference document is to help guide Lewisham Once you have submitted your application you will parents and carers through the admission process for receive a reference number which will be similar to starting primary school in September 2018. Please read this: 209-2018-09-E-002009. If you do not receive the document very carefully together with the online this number, it means your application has not been information at submitted. www.lewisham.gov.uk/primaryadmissions. Information provided in this document is subject to If you have any queries or need any part of the process change by the Government or the Schools Adjudicator. explaining further please contact the Admissions Team Any amendments will be published on Lewisham on 020 8314 8282 (Monday–Friday, 9am–12 noon) or Council’s website: www.lewisham.gov.uk/admissions. email [email protected] The information is intended for Lewisham residents. Children living outside the borough are welcome to apply The deadline for submitting an online for schools in Lewisham and applications should be made application is 11.59pm on 15 January 2018. direct to their home authority. Children with a statement of special educational need Useful websites: (SEN) or an education health care plan (EHCP) follow a All you need to know about applying to start primary different admissions process. For further advice please school in Lewisham contact the Children with Complex Needs Team on Tel: www.lewisham.gov.uk/primaryadmissions 020 3049 1475. Find out about primary schools in Lewisham and which are closest to you. www.lewisham.gov.uk/primaryschools Apply online for primary school places. www.eadmissions.org.uk Apply online It only takes a few minutes and you will get a confirmation email once you submit your application. Applications for admission to primary schools can be made by visiting www.eadmissions.org.uk The benefits of applying online are: ●● it is quick and easy to do ●● you will get an email confirmation that your application has been received ●● the system helps you by checking for errors ●● there is no risk that your application will get lost in the post or arrive late ●● you can change your preferences of school up until the closing date ●● your details are held securely ●● during the evening of 16 April 2018 (after 5pm) you will receive an email informing you of your child’s offer of primary school. Contact: Admissions and Appeals Team, Third Floor, Laurence House, Catford SE6 4RU. Tel: 020 8314 8282 (lines are open Monday-Friday, 9am-12 noon). Email: [email protected] Deadline for online applications 11.59pm 15 January 2018 Applying to start primary school 2018–19 Information about admissions arrangements 3 Important dates Important dates for the admission process for children starting primary school in Lewisham in September 2018. Applications Closing date for applications Monday 15 January 2018 (we recommend that forms are Apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk submitted by Friday 5 January 2018) Closing date for supplementary information forms Monday 15 January 2018 (if required). To be returned direct to the faith school. Closing date for accepting ‘late for good reason’ Monday 12 February 2018 applications and those who have changed address since 15 January 2018 Offers National Offer Day Monday 16 April 2018 Online applicants will receive their result via email during the evening after 5pm. Results will be posted to people who did not apply online or to those who have not been successful in securing a place at one of their preference schools. The result will be sent by first class post. First class post does not guarantee next-day delivery and results will not be given over the telephone. If you would like to get the result of your application during the evening of 16 April 2018, you must apply online. Deadline for accepting your offer Monday 30 April 2018 Online applicants must accept their offer online. Those who make a paper application should return the acceptance slip to Lewisham Council. Appeals Closing date for lodging an appeal for a Friday 11 May 2018 community school Admissions authority schools may set the same or a later deadline. Appeal hearings for those lodged by the given June/July 2018 deadline Appeals submitted after the closing date of Friday 11 May 2018 may not be heard until the start of the academic year in September 2018. Contact: Admissions and Appeals Team, Third Floor, Laurence House, Catford SE6 4RU. Tel: 020 8314 8282 (lines are open Monday-Friday, 9am-12 noon). Email: [email protected] Deadline for online applications 11.59pm 15 January 2018 Applying to start primary school 2018–19 Information about admissions arrangements 4 Applying for a Reception place around the school and answer your questions. Please Applications for a Reception class place in a primary contact the school(s) direct to arrange your visit. school in Lewisham are coordinated through Lewisham Council and must be made through the local authority Admissions criteria where the applicant lives. When a school is ‘oversubscribed’, (ie. they receive more applications than there are places available), the school’s Applications from children living outside the borough admissions criteria is applied to decide which children should be made direct to their home local authority. qualify for a place. It is important that you familiarise For those applying under the religious criteria for a place yourself with the admissions criteria for the schools you at a faith school, a supplementary information form (SIF) wish to apply for, to gauge whether your child is likely to will also need to be completed and returned direct to qualify for a place. the school by Monday 15 January 2018. Supplementary Most primary schools in Lewisham and neighbouring information forms can be downloaded direct from the boroughs are expected to receive more applications than school’s website. there are places available. Limiting the number of schools Primary school starting age you list on your application can limit the chance of your receiving an offer from one of your preference schools. Children who permanently and habitually reside in Lewisham and were born between 1 September 2013 Do not include fee paying (independent) schools or and 31 August 2014 are eligible to start full time in the special needs schools on your application as they are not Reception class in September 2018 and participate in part of the coordinated admissions arrangements. Lewisham’s reception admissions scheme for 2018. Looked after children (LAC) Applications from children living outside the borough Most schools will give priority to children who are should be made direct to their home local authority. classed as a looked after child (LAC) or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being Deciding which primary schools to apply for looked after became subject to an adoption order, child You can apply for up to six mainstream state primary arrangements, or special guardianship order. schools which may be within Lewisham or in authorities Confirmation of a child’s LAC status must be supplied by outside the borough. As it is not always possible to offer the allocated social worker or foster carer with the every child a place at one of their preferred schools, you application along with a copy of the Adoption Order, are advised to research a range of schools including those Care Order or Special Guardianship Order. which are closest to your home address before submitting your application. Medical and/or social We strongly recommend you look at your nearest schools In exceptional circumstances there is discretion to (whether they are faith or non-faith schools) as most admit a child on the grounds of their or their family’s schools in Lewisham are expected to be oversubscribed. severe medical or social need for that particular school We also advise you to use all six preferences and not and who would not otherwise qualify for admission. restrict your application. A list of the primary schools in The application must be supported by a letter from a the borough, including contact details, age ranges and hospital consultant, social worker or similar professional, number of places available starts at page 15. setting out the reasons why the school is the only one to meet the child’s needs before an admission decision To find out more about primary schools in the borough is made. Supporting evidence must be provided with the and see which are nearest to your home, visit www. application and by 15 January 2018, the closing date for . lewisham.gov.uk/primaryschools applications. Visiting schools Siblings Before deciding which schools you wish to apply for, Most schools will give priority to children whose older we also recommend that you arrange to visit the school brother or sister (sibling) attends the school.