Apply on-line for school places Information for parents stoke.gov.uk/admissions Primary Schools 2018-2019 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 MONDAY 2 and wider family needs. For many families, that means the local school, but it is your right OCTOBER 2017 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 2018 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 2018. You will be informed of the outcome on 16 April 2018. 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 Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health & Care Plan ... 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 2015 ............................................. 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 ................................................................ 39 Junior School Admissions Policies ................................................................... 132 Useful Contact Details ...................................................................................... 134 The deadline for applications for a place at a primary school in Stoke-on-Trent for 2017 is 15 January 2018. 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 may 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- community school has a defined catchment area on-Trent Primary (or Infant) school from 2 October and most pupils go to the school which serves 2017. If you live in the city, you should register your their local community (the ’catchment school’). If preferences on-line at stoke.gov.uk/admissions. you 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] the application form. This is available from the 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 • You will get an instant e-mail confirmation that when you deliver it to your preferred school. Your your application has been received. receipt should be kept safe. • You will be notified of the outcome of your application by e-mail on 16 April 2018. Allocation letters to tell you the outcome of your • You may edit your preferences on-line anytime application will be sent out on 16 April 2018. before the closing date of 15 January 2018. Pre-school education nursery schools, If you are applying for a faith place at a Church nursery classes and other early years Aided School or Academy, additional information such as a baptism certificate/faith reference will settings be required. This MUST be forwarded separately. Please refer to the individual admissions policies Stoke-on-Trent City Council is firmly committed for faith schools for which forms of additional to pre-school education. Nursery schools, nursery information are necessary. classes attached to primary schools, and early education settings provide a structured educational Please note: The required additional information environment in which young children learn through relating to applications on faith grounds must play. This gives children an excellent foundation be supplied. Failure to do so will affect the before starting primary school. admissions criteria under which your application is considered. Children in Stoke-on-Trent are entitled to a minimum of a free part time place in a nursery You should express a preference for three schools school or class or other early years setting from the on the form. These should be listed in order of age of three. As a parent, you can choose from the preference. following options: • A maintained nursery school or class: It is most important that you include all of your There are six nursery schools in the city and preferences at this stage, as some schools will have most primary schools have one or more nursery more applications than they can take. Where we classes providing early education in a school are unable to meet your preference, we will try to environment; offer your next preferred school. Naming only one 4. • A private, independent or voluntary childcare setting: Many day nurseries and pre-school playgroups across the city provide part time places for up to 15 hours per week, 38 weeks of the year. Attendance at a nursery 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 To access an early education place at a day nursery a January start date as they may not be quite or pre-school playgroup, you should contact the ready for school in the Autumn term. setting directly. For a list of childcare settings that deliver early education, or for more information The city council operates a co-ordinated scheme about the free entitlement to early education, for admissions to its nursery schools and classes contact Co-operative Working on within Stoke-on-Trent and its city boundary. A 01782 232200. separate leaflet is available at stoke.gov.uk/admissions However, statutory guidance for local authorities in relation to early education and childcare is changing