Starting School A GUIDE FOR PARENTS & CARERS 2020-2021 Publication date September 2019 IMPORTANT DATES RELATING TO YOUR CHILD’S ADMISSION TO SCHOOL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ONLINE Is your child eligible to start School (Reception) in September 2020? Primary School Secondary School Or maybe you have a child currently in year 6, getting ready to Packs Available Packs Available move up to Secondary School? If so... 6th November 2019 25th September 2019 Why not take advantage of our online application system Closing date for Closing date for applications: applications: 15th January 2020 27th November 2019 at midnight at midnight What are the benefits of Primary to Secondary the system? Offer date: Offer date: Applications • Saves on postage costs and guarantees the 16th April 2020 1st March 2020 System available to use from safe delivery of your child’s application 25th September 2019 until closing date • Get an automatic acknowledgement once of 27th November 2019 at midnight. your application has been submitted and Please ensure that you complete an application form either on-line or received by us Admission to Primary on a paper application form which can be obtained from The School • Ability to view and amend your application (Reception) Applications online up until the published closing date and Student Access Unit on 01633 644508. System available to use from • Ability to log onto our system on the 6th November until closing date of 15th published offer date to find out if your child’s January 2020 at midnight. application has been successful Please ensure that your completed application is returned prior to the For further information on School Admissions above closing dates. Failure to do so will disadvantage your child’s Secondary offer date - and to access the online application system, application and increase the risk of them not obtaining a place at 1st March 2020 please visit: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk /applying-for-a-school-place your preferred School. Primary offer date - 16th April 2020 For more information on the application process and the evidence that we require, please refer to pages 20 - 23 of this booklet. www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/applying-for-a-school-place www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/applying-for-a-school-place CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Introduction 4 DEAR PARENT/CARER Term dates 2020/21 5 Provision of Education In Monmouthshire 6 - 9 At this important time in your child’s life this booklet is provided to support you in What will my child study in Primary School? 10 - 13 your next steps. What will my child study in Secondary School? 13 - 17 Admissions Procedure 17 Monmouthshire is proud of its achievements for all its children and young Admission to Early Years Education 18 - 19 people. We aim to provide learning opportunities and experiences that Admission to Infant/Primary School 20 - 21 allow pupils and students to achieve their potential in all aspects of their life Admission to Secondary School 22 and the future. Admission to Voluntary Aided Schools 21 Important Dates Relating to your Child’s Admission 21 The Directorate for Children and Young People has an excellent record of Applying for a Primary/Secondary School Place 22 - 27 achieving a very high percentage of first preferences for school places. We are Allocation of places at Local Authority maintained: proud of this achievement and want to continue to work with you and our schools Primary/Secondary Schools 28 - 30 to meet your needs wherever possible. We are also determined to ensure that Late Applications 34 when your child starts school, this very important time for your family is supported Some reasons why we may refuse an admission 33 - 35 with clear information. This booklet is designed to provide you with the detail you Appeals 37 - 39 need to ensure that the process is a positive experience from the start. Staff in the In Year – transfer between schools 39 - 40 Directorate will be pleased to help and support in any way they can. Admissions arrangements for VA Schools 41 - 72 We are sure that you appreciate that the information offered here is for general Useful Information Section guidance only. Each year we forecast the demands for places in schools. From time to time external and unexpected factors can challenge the accuracy of our Frequently asked questions regarding admissions 74 - 76 projections. Frequently asked questions regarding transport 77 - 80 Special Educational /Additional Learning Needs 81 - 83 To assist you in deciding on your preferences there are specific details in relation Healthy Schools Scheme 84 - 86 to the Primary and Secondary schools in Monmouthshire and surrounding areas School Meals 87 - 90 contained in this booklet. School clothing grants 91 School Governors and Health & Safety 93 This is a milestone event for you and your child. We are here to help. Education Welfare Service 94 A Guide for our Customers 95 Will Mclean Concerns or Complaints about Schools 96 Chief Officer for Children and Young People Local Authority Maintained Nurseries in Monmouthshire 97-98 Non - maintained Early Years Provision 99 County Councillor Richard John A list of Primary Education in Monmouthshire 100 - 107 Cabinet Member for Children & Young People. A list of Secondary Education in Monmouthshire 108 - 110 Useful Contacts 110 Terms used in this booklet 111 Publication date September 2019 3 www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/applying-for-a-school-place www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/applying-for-a-school-place 4 Term Dates 2020 - 2021 Provision of Education in Monmouthshire Please see below our confirmed School Term Dates Monmouthshire is proud to offer the following and Holidays for the 2020/21 academic year. educational provision within it’s County: Within Monmouthshire, we ensure that appropriate consultation is held Nursery Education with our neighbouring Authorities with the view to ensuring compliance and Monmouthshire has twelve nursery units attached to mainstream schools. consistency of dates, although this is not always possible. We acknowledge The authority maintains these nurseries which provide free, part time early the importance of consistency of term dates across neighbouring Authorities years education (if there are spaces available) for pupils from the term and how this relates to a variety of implications for parents, staff and following their third birthday. children. We also have a number of non-maintained settings including private day These dates comply with those dates being put forward by our immediate nurseries and playgroups that are approved to provide early education. neighbouring Authorities which include Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Cardiff. Details of the Local Authority maintained and private nurseries can be found on pages 97 - 98 Term Start Half Term Half Term Term Primary Education (4-11) Starts Ends Ends The County Council offers a number of educational establishments at Primary level: Autumn Tues 1st Mon 26th Fri 30th Fri 18th Dec Sept 2020 Oct 2020 Oct 2020 2020 Primary Community (English) 20 Primary Community (Welsh) 2 Spring Mon 4th Mon 15th Fri 19th Thu 1st Apr Primary Church in Wales VC 4 Jan 2021 Feb 2021 Feb 2020 2021 Primary Church in Wales VA 3 Primary Roman Catholic VA 2 Summer Mon 19th Mon 31st Fri 4th Wed 21st Jul Apr 2021 May 2021 June 2021 2021 Details of the above Schools are on pages 100 - 107 Easter Sunday – Sunday 4th April 2021 May Day – Monday 3rd May 2021 Autumn Term = 39 days and 35 days = 74 days Spring Term = 30 days and 29 days = 59 days Summer Term = 29 days and 33 days = 62 days 5 www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/applying-for-a-school-place www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/applying-for-a-school-place 6 Welsh Medium Primary Education All schools provide a broad and balanced curriculum and offer many The Authority maintains two Welsh Medium Primary Schools additional opportunities through a wide range of extra-curricular activities located in Abergavenny (Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni) and Caldicot which take place outside lesson times offering children the best opportunity (Ysgol Gymraeg Y Ffin). to develop themselves as an individual, socially and academically. GCSE, AS and A level results in Monmouthshire schools consistently Children wishing to be educated through the medium of Welsh will achieve grades above the welsh average. receive free Home to School Transport to their nearest Welsh Medium establishment. Monmouthshire Secondary Schools and their sixth form provision continues to develop individuals with the skills to succeed in Further Education and life Voluntary Controlled Schools beyond statutory schooling. These co-educational day schools, whilst under the control of the Local Authority as far as admissions are concerned, offer an education which is Special Secondary Education founded on Christian principles and values. Mounton House Special School is located in Chepstow and accommodates 11-16 year old boys with significant social, emotional and behavioural Voluntary Aided Schools difficulties. These are voluntary aided co-educational day schools which are Caldicot School and Monmouth Comprehensive School have an Additional maintained jointly by the the Local Authority and voluntary bodies. All Educational Needs Base to provide for children who have additional aided schools in the County are either part of Catholic or Church in Wales learning needs. denominational groups. Welsh Medium Secondary Education Children wishing to be educated at a school which offers denominational Monmouthshire has developed close links with neighboring authorities education will receive free Home to School Transport to their nearest Torfaen County Council and Newport County Council to provide Welsh denominational setting. Medium Education at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw for the North of the County and Ysgol Gwent Is Coed for the South of the County. Special Primary Education Overmonnow Primary School (Monmouth), Pembroke Primary School Children wishing to be educated through the medium of Welsh will receive (Chepstow), and Deri View Primary School (Abergavenny) have Additional free Home to School Transport to their nearest Welsh medium setting Educational Needs Units to accommodate those children whose needs cannot be met in mainstream education.