All children who are 5 between 1 September and 31 August of the following year will start school in September.
Each new year group has a planned admission number (PAN). Admissions are set by the County Council Admissions department and take into account; parent preferences, whether siblings already attend a school and the number of applications they actually receive for each school place.
Visits to view the school are always welcome and open days will be arranged during the autumn term. We try to make your child's early days at school as easy for you as possible. We follow a similar pattern to other schools in the area by inviting children to stay for half days until everyone - your child, yourself and their teacher - feels they are ready for a whole day.
During the summer term, prior to your child starting school, the Local Authority will provide the school with the names of the children who have been offered a provisional place.
Once this is received we will invite you to visit the school with your child. It is during this visit that your child will meet their teacher for a play session and you will have the opportunity to talk to the teacher about your child and any particular needs.
We will also hold a new parents information evening when you will have the opportunity to; have a tour of the school, see your child’s classroom, meet with staff who will be involved in your child’s education and welfare including our Parent and Family Support Advisor.
At pre-school your child will have been following 'The Early Years Foundation Stage’. This curriculum sets the standards for the development, learning and care of children from birth to five and continues into your child's first year at school. They will then be ready to start the National Curriculum Programmes in year one.
During your child's first year staff will complete the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, detailing assessments of your child's progress and attainment. Information gathered from these assessments is then used by the reception teacher to guide their planning, ensuring that work is at the right level for each individual child. Assessments will then be on-going throughout the year and will be recorded. You are welcome to see these assessments at our regular parents' evenings.
The first open evening will be in the Autumn term when we will tell you about the many things your child is learning and how they have settled into the school routine.
Currently all school 'in year' admissions are allocated by the school. In accordance with County guidelines the following admission criteria apply:
1. Children with a statement of special educational needs (SEN) that names the school.
2. Children Looked After (children in the care of the Local Authority) whose care placement is being considered within the catchment area of the school.
3. Children living in the catchment area, with an older sibling at the school at the time of admission, and who live at the same address.
4. Children living in the catchment area.
5. Children living outside the catchment area, with an older sibling, at the time of admission, and who live at the same address.
6. Children living outside the catchment area but closest to the school.
7. If you would like to apply for a place, 'in year application forms' are available from the school office or via the link at the bottom of this page.
Planned Admission limit
We have a planned admission limit in year groups 1 to 6 of 55. This limit is set in order to ensure that our school is able to run as efficiently as possible with the resources that we have.
Where a child does not have a Statement of Special Educational Needs but whose attendance is necessary at a particular school because, for example, of physical disability, the governing body of that school will be required to admit the child.
If there are not enough places to satisfy all the applications under any one criterion, the following will apply:
For all catchment area children: priority will be given to those who have a longer (as the crow flies) or more difficult (i.e. physical geographical barriers) journey, to an alternative school.
For out of catchment children: priority will be given to those living nearest the school as the crow flies).
A child's permanent home address is defined as one at which the child lives for the majority of the time. For children who are subject to shared care arrangements, their home address will be determined by the provision of corroborating evidence (usually child benefit).
Where an application has been refused in any year group, the child will be placed on a waiting list. This will be kept strictly in order of oversubscription criteria by the Local Authority, as the Admission Authority, and the child will remain on the waiting list until the end of the academic year in which the application was refused. Parents are responsible for informing the Admission Authority of any changes in their circumstances, which could affect their place on the waiting list.
Transfer to Secondary Schools
Children are always excited when they are approaching the end of their primary schooling. Somerset County Council will contact you during the start of Year 6 with information on how to select the secondary school of your choice. For most children their transition happens smoothly, as we help to prepare them throughout their final year. Liaison with the secondary schools takes place and there are opportunities for Year 6 children to undertake activities linked with the senior schools. Two induction days are organised during the Summer Term.