CALDERDALE PRIMARY ADMISSIONS POLICY
PRIORITY FOR ADMISSIONS
For a community or voluntary controlled school the order of priority for admissions is:-
1st Priority Category:
(a) Pupils who are in receipt of a statement of special Educational Needs (in accordance with the 1996 Education Act) where the Authority has named a particular school as necessary to meet the pupil's needs.
(b) Pupils who are in public care (looked after children)
2nd Priority Category:
Pupils who have a brother or sister (or step-brother or step-sister lliving in the same household) attending the school, or its associated junior school, at the time of admission.
Parents should be aware that a sibling link cannot be claimed where a sibling in receipt of a Statement of Special Educational Needs is attending in a resourced unit within a mainstream primary school.
3rd Priority Category:
Proximity of the child's home to school, as measured by the shortest walking route, wherever possible on lit and metalled roads. Measurements will be made from the center point of the dwelling to the main entrance of the school.
NOTE
Where a pupil lives with parents with shared responsibility each part of a week, parents must state which is the predominant address together with details. Over subscription criteria will be considered on the basis of the predominant address and parental preference.
ADMISSIONS TO NURSERY CLASSES
The admission arrangement to Nursery units are similar to those applying to Primary Schools excepting the parental right of appeal.
All children are required by law to start school at the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday.
The law does not require the Local Authority to provide nursery education. Parents therefore, have the discretion to send their children to nursery classes in Calderdale.
(a) The general policy is to admit children to nursery classes in the September of each year providing their forth birthday falls between 1st September of the year of admission and 31st August of the following year.
(b For administration purposes all children should be registered by 31st January of the year of admission.
(c) Headteachers of Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools will be in a position to make an offer of a place around Easter prior to the September that the child is to be admitted.
(d) There is no advantage given to any parents on the grounds that they made an application to a particular school at an earlier date than other parents ie. a waiting list is for recording purposes only, it is not an admissions criteria.
(e) Nursery classes do not have defined priority zones, although consideration will be given to the length of journey to the nearest school.
(f) Places will be offered initially on a part time basis. Any full time places will be offered at the discretion of the Headteacher in consideration of social and educational needs (see priority criteria) and age order preference.
3 Full time equivalent (fte) places are reserved for children recommended for admission by the Area Medical Officer, the Group Director of Schools and Children's Services or the Health and Social Care Directorate.
If these places are not fully allocated in September, they will be retained until Autumn half term break after which date they may be filled in accordance with the admissions criteria.
Parents are requested to note:
Children cannot have places in 2 Education nurseries at the same time. Once a child is admitted to a nursery unit a place cannot be accepted in another nursery unless the child moves house or forfeits the original place.
As Nursery provision is not available at every school, admission to a Nursery class of a particular school DOES NOT GUARANTEE admission to a Reception age class of that school. You will be expected to sign a brief statement to say that you understand this when your child is admitted to a Nursery Class.
(g) PRIORITY FOR ADMISSION
1st Priority (initially 3 fte places in a 26 fte place class and 6 in a 52 fte place class.
(i) Pupils who are in receipt of a statement (in accordance with the Education Act 1993) where the Authority has named a particular unit as necessary to meet the pupil's need.
(ii) Consideration will also be given to children recommended for admission by the Area Medical Officer, or the Group Director of Schools and Children's Services or the Group Director of Health and Social Care according to the following priority criteria.
* Children with physical and /or learning disabilities.
* Children on the Child Protection Register or children suspected of being at risk of non accidental injury or to prevent family breakdown.
* Children where nursery provision is vital to a child's development. Development means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioral development as defined in Children Act 1989 Sec 17.
* Children with English as a Second Language.
* Where a single unsupported parent needs to work to maintain the child.
NB: In the case of a single unsupported parent who already has a job they will be deemed to satisfy the condition in this paragraph. This includes training, studying and access courses.
2nd Priority
Pupils who have a brother or sister attending the school or its associated Junior School at the time of admission.
3rd Priority
Proximity of the child's home to the nursery as determined by the shortest safe walking distance. |