Apply on-line for school places Information for parents stoke.gov.uk/admissions Primary Schools 2019-2020 Introduction Rob Johnstone Interim Assistant Director – Learning Services Children and Family Services Directorate It is important to secure the right primary Applications open on school place for your child. It needs to be somewhere which will meet both your child’s THURSDAY 1 and wider family needs. For many families, that means the local school, but it is your right NOVEMBER 2018 to express a preference for a place at any primary school and places are allocated according to published criteria. In deciding on your preferences, I would encourage you to take a look at the range of schools available in this prospectus. It is also a good idea to visit schools you are interested in – many of them hold special open events to enable you to have a look around and ask any questions you have. Schools also set out considerable information on their websites. Deadline for applications This document also sets out what you need to do in registering your preferences – and MONDAY 15 it tells you about the options open to you if JANUARY 2019 you don’t get your preferred place. Applications should be made online at stoke.gov.uk/admissions or by completing an application form by 15 January 2019. You will be informed of the outcome on 16 April 2019. Staff in the Admissions and Transport Team can be contacted on 01782 234598 to provide assistance if you have any queries on making this application. Rob Johnstone Interim Assistant Director – Learning Services The information contained in this booklet was accurate at the time of publication. Parents should refer to the website stoke.gov.uk/admissions for the latest information. 2. Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................... 2 Applying for a place at Primary school ............................................................. 4 What types of school are available in Stoke-on-Trent ...................................... 6 Education, Health & Care Plan(s) ...................................................................... 8 Children of UK service personnel (UK Armed Forces) ...................................... 9 How to decide which schools to apply for ........................................................ 10 Fraudulent Applications ................................................................................... 12 Transferring from an Infant school to a Junior school ...................................... 14 In Year Transfers ............................................................................................... 14 Nursery schools in Stoke-on-Trent .................................................................. 15 Apply on-line for school places Map of local schools ........................................................................................ 16 How places were allocated for September 2018 ............................................. 18 Primary schools in Stoke-on-Trent .................................................................. 22 Right of Appeal ................................................................................................. 28 Transport ........................................................................................................... 29 Other Information .............................................................................................. 31 Appendix A Nursery and Primary arrangements for community, foundation trust and 34 voluntary controlled schools ............................................................................ Nursery School Admissions Policies ................................................................ 37 stoke.gov.uk/admissions Primary School Admissions Policies ................................................................ 38 Junior School Admissions Policies ................................................................... 152 Useful Contact Details ...................................................................................... 154 The deadline for applications for a place at a primary school in Stoke-on-Trent for September 2019 is 15 January 2019. Applications received after this deadline will be processed as soon as possible, but parental preferences expressed by the deadline will take priority. 3. Applying for a place at primary school How do I apply for a school place? school on an application form does not increase the chances of being successful. Instead, it will mean Either parent can complete an application form that you can only be considered for places left at on behalf of their child. Applications will not be the end of the process, when other families have processed where there is a parental dispute in been given their second and third preferences. This relation to the school(s) to be applied for. may result in your child being allocated a school place further away from your family home. Each You can apply for a Reception place at a Stoke-on- community school has a defined catchment area Trent Primary (or Infant) school from 1 November and most pupils go to the school which serves their 2018. If you live in the city, you need to register your local community (the ’catchment school’). If you preferences on-line at [email protected] are in any doubt about your catchment school, please contact the school or the Admissions and All dates below relate to applications for a Transport Team on 01782 234598. Reception place. Deadlines and notification dates for Nursery applications are contained within a Failure to make an application could jeopardise separate leaflet, “Admission to a Stoke-on-Trent a place at a local school for your child. Late Nursery Class or School”. This is available on line applications should be made on a paper copy of at [email protected] (even if your chosen the application form. This is available from the schools are located outside of the city). Admissions and Transport Team (see back page), or from your local primary school. The benefits of applying on-line are: Please request a receipt for your completed form when you deliver it to your preferred school. Your • You will get an instant e-mail confirmation that receipt should be kept safe. your application has been received. • You will be notified of the outcome of your Allocation letters to tell you the outcome of your application by e-mail on 16 April 2019. application will be sent out on 16 April 2019. • You may edit your preferences on-line anytime before the closing date of 15 January 2019. Pre-school education nursery schools, • Forms will not get lost in the post. nursery classes and other early years If you are applying for a faith place at a Church settings Aided School or Academy, additional information such as a baptism certificate/faith reference Stoke-on-Trent City Council is firmly committed will be required. This MUST be forwarded to the to pre-school education. Nursery schools, nursery school separately. Please refer to the individual classes attached to primary schools, and early admissions policies for faith schools for which education settings provide a structured educational forms of additional information are necessary. environment in which young children learn through play. This gives children an excellent foundation Please note: The required additional information before starting primary school. relating to applications on faith grounds must be supplied. Failure to do so will affect the Children in Stoke-on-Trent are entitled to a admissions criteria under which your application minimum of a free part time place in a nursery is considered. school or class or other early years setting from the age of three. As a parent, you can choose from the You should express a preference for three schools following options: on the form. These should be listed in order of • A maintained nursery school or class: preference. there is one standalone nursery school in the city and most primary schools have one or more It is most important that you include all of your nursery classes providing early education in a preferences at this stage, as some schools will have school environment; more applications than they can take. Where we are unable to meet your preference, we will try to offer your next preferred school. Naming only one 4. • A private, independent or voluntary childcare setting: Many day nurseries, pre-school playgroups and childminders across the city provide part time places for up to 15 hours per week, 38 weeks of Attendance at a nursery the year.Early education in these settings is free, but you may have to pay for any additional time class does not guarantee a that your child attends for childcare purposes. Parents of children whose third birthday falls on place in a reception class at or before 31 August can apply for a place at a the same school. maintained nursery school or class. Schools will admit children either from September or from January. The youngest children may be offered a January start date as they may not be quite Eligibility for the additional hours will be determined ready for school in the Autumn term. by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Parents can apply for the additional 15 hours at The city council operates a co-ordinated scheme www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. for admissions to its nursery schools and classes within Stoke-on-Trent and its city boundary. A For more information about eligibility for the separate leaflet is available at additional 15 hours, please