Admissions
How do I get a place at Killinghall Primary School
Children are admitted to Reception Class at the beginning of the academic year in which they are five, this is September. However part-time places may be available initially for some children depending on educational/social needs and by agreement with parents/carers, and the Headteacher. Generally our children settle more quickly if they come full-time.
The school has a planned admission limit, agreed with Bradford Council, of 90 children for Reception, Year 1,2,3,4,5 and Year 6.
The Council decide who will be offered a place at our school by using our Admission Policy.
To apply for a place in our school you are required to apply online using the Bradford Council website www.bradford.gov.uk
KILLINGHALL PRIMARY SCHOOL AND BRIGHT START EARLY LEARNING ADMISSIONS POLICY FOR NURSERY AND SCHOOL
Killinghall Primary School is a two form entry Foundation School with a 78 place Nursery. The school is 3 form entry school by 2016.
In order to make admissions to our Nursery and main school as fair as possible for all children wishing to attend it is necessary to have an admission policy.
The admission of pupil with a statement of special educational needs or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is dealt with by a separate procedure. Such children will be admitted to Killinghall Primary if the school is named in the statement, without reference to the oversubscription criteria below.
Admission to Foundation Stage 2
Children are admitted into Foundation Stage 2 class in the September of the academic year in which they reach the age of five regardless of aptitude or ability. When applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied, in the order set out below.
A place offered, where the parent has named the school based on:
- Looked after children and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or become subject to a residence order or special guardianship order).
- Children who have exceptional social or medical needs, where it is deemed essential by an independent professional written recommendation from the child’s paediatrician/consultant, a Director of the Local Authority, Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) etc. The letter must explain why Killinghall Primary is the ONLY suitable school to meet the child’s needs and why no other school could provide the appropriate support. The Governors will consider all requests on these grounds.
- Children of members of staff who have been employed for two or more years at the time at which the application is made and/or the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
- Children who have sisters and brothers (siblings) of statutory school age attending the school (where the child currently attending will be continuing in the school during the year for which the application is made)
- Children who live near to the proximity of the school. Priority being given to those living closest to the school as the crow flies, from the main entrance of the school to the home address building (proof of residency may be requested before places are offered)
Please Note
Siblings mean brothers and sisters who live at the same address. Foster children and step sisters and step brothers are also included.
The address is defined as being the home where the child lives on a regular basis with his or her parents/carers.
After all available places have been filled waiting lists will be kept by the Admissions Team, Bradford Council on behalf of the school at least until the end of the autumn term. However, it will be explained to such parents that should a place become available at the school, this may be filled by a child whose family have made contact since the final date of registration for admission. This family may meet the criteria for admission in a way that gives them preference over others on the waiting list.
Parents who make an unsuccessful application for admission to Killinghall will be informed of their statutory right of appeal. The Appeal Procedure will follow the prescribed DfES/LEA guidelines.
Admission mid-year/ Pupil Transfer
In year applications must be made on a ‘Common in-year application form’, obtainable from the Local Authority or school and must be returned to the Local Authority. If a place is not available, the application will be added to the oversubscription list. No child will normally be accepted without prior consultation with the school they are leaving.
Pupils will be expected to remain at Killinghall for the full seven years as mid phase transfer has detrimental effects on pupil’s progress. Transfer to another school occasionally is requested and should be done at the end of term or in exceptional circumstances half term.
Parents requesting a transfer should discuss this with the Headteacher and complete a common ‘In-Year Application Form’.
Late Applications
In the event of a place becoming available during the year, a place will be offered to the next person on the list according to the oversubscription criteria. Late applications will be added to the oversubscription list and be treated in the same way as other refused applications.
Application Procedure
All applications must be made on the Bradford Common Application Form. The Local Authority will apply the admission criteria above.
If you need any additional information regarding our admissions policy, please do not hesitate to contact the Headteacher or the School Business Manager.
Parents of prospective new pupils are positively encouraged to visit the school.
Please note it is the parent’s responsibility to apply for a place for the child in mainstream school.
Admission policies will only be consulted upon each 7 years unless there have been changes.
Supplementary Information
Admission of Four year olds (Summer born children)
Parents may defer the child’s admission to the beginning of the following academic year, however if they choose to do so, they must apply for a Reception place, but will only take up this place in Year 1 in the following academic year.
Parents of summer born children may also request part-time places or start dates in January or April in the Foundation 2 class up to the compulsory school age of 5 years. All requests will be considered.
Admission to Foundation Stage 1 (Nursery) – We adopt the Council admission policy on Nursery admission
Children attend Nursery part-time and will be admitted to Nursery in a term after their third birthday. There are 39 places in each Nursery session. In the event of Nursery places being over- subscribed, the over-subscription criteria described above will be applied. Parents will be informed of the decision by the school. Entitled children aged 2 currently in the 2 year old Early Years provision will be given priority into the 3/4 year old nursery classes to ensure continuity in their education.
At present the school is not in a position to offer any flexible places. A child who has a place in nursery is not guaranteed a place in the main school, nor do they have any additional priority for the main school.
A year group is full when it reaches the agreed number of children but more children could be allowed into school by the Headteacher and Governors. And allowed by the Council, if the school’s budget accounts need this or if there are insufficient school places in the area.
If a parent or carer asks for a place where the year group is full, or where all the classes are full, then their child’s name will be put on a waiting list by the Council.
If another child leaves and a place becomes free in the middle of a term, then that place will be given to a child to start at the beginning of the following term, with the same list as above.
The Headteacher or senior staff will talk with new parent or carers about how it can upset a child’s progress to move schools.
The new parent or carers will always be asked to talk with the child’s previous Headteacher, we will contact the previous school and the parent or carer will be asked to complete a ‘transfer form’ from the old school.
Admission to Children with Disabilities
All children have the same admission process managed by the Council. The children are assessed before admission to school so that the authority and parents can decide on the best placement for the individual child.
If a new child has a disability, we like to meet with parents and nursery staff etc. before admission, so that we can draw up an individual education plan, if necessary, and prepare to meet the child’s needs well. The class teacher together with our Special Educational Needs coordinator then check how the plan is going in practice and work closely with parents and family to make sure they are doing well.
We work very hard to make sure that all children are treated will and respected and that no child with challenging behaviour disrupts any other child’s learning or enjoyment in school.
How to get a place in Bright Start Early Years 2 year old provision
TWO YEAR OLDS ADMISSIONS POLICY
Killinghall Primary School Nursery is for two year old children who meet the eligibility criteria for the government’s ‘Early Education for Two-year Olds’ scheme (see below). These two year old children are entitled to a place starting in the term after their second birthday. The governors of Killinghall Primary School are responsible for admissions into the 2 year Nursery. We offer 16 morning places and 16 afternoon places. No flexible places will be offered at this time.
PURPOSE
- To provide a clear statement of admission criteria to the 2 Year old Nursery, notes and guidance which will be used to allocate places and which comply with local, statutory advice and regulations.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be considered for a place in Nursery, as from September 2014, children must first meet at least one of the Government’s criteria, as follows:
- All two year olds who are looked after by their local authority
- Children whose parents are in receipt of one of the following income related benefits:
- If they meet the eligibility criteria also used for free school meals
- If their families receive Working Tax Credits and have annual gross earnings of no more than £16,190 per year
- If they have a current statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an education, health care plan from an external health or Social Service professional
- If they attract Disability Living Allowance
- If they have left care through special guardianship or through an adoption or residence order
OVER-SUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA
Places are usually allocated a half-term before children are entitled to start in Nursery (the term after their second birthday). When the number of eligible applications exceeds the number of places available then the following criteria will be applied, in priority order as listed, to determine who will be offered a place.
- Looked after children.
- Children with siblings currently in school, living at the same address at the time of admission.
- Proximity of the child’s home to the school’s main entrance, with those living nearer, as measured by a straight line, being accorded the highest priority.
- Where any of the above categories is over-subscribed, proximity to the school as measured by a straight line will be the deciding factor in awarding a place.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Killinghall Primary School Nursery Application Forms are available from the school office. Completed forms should be returned to the office with the child’s birth certificate and any additional evidence (e.g. the supplementary application form, or evidence of benefits). The admissions panel will meet to allocate places after the half-term holiday each term (October, February, and May). Places will then be allocated and offered, and applications received after this date will only be considered if there are spaces available.
WAITING LISTS
1. After all places have been filled, a waiting list will be formed from those who have been unsuccessful in obtaining a place and request their name be kept on file.
2. When the child reaches the appropriate age for school Nursery (the September after they turn three) the child will be considered for a place in this provision, in line with our Nursery Admissions Policy.
3. There are no statutory appeal entitlements for parents/carers refused a Nursery place. Parents should follow the following procedure if they have cause to complain:
- put their concerns in writing to the school’s governing body who will consider the complaint in accordance with their complaints procedure;
- if not satisfied they should write to Local Authority’s Early Years Manager who will investigate the complaint;
- where parents/carers are still not satisfied with the decision they can then complain through the courts or the Local Government Ombudsman.
NOTES
- The criteria will be overridden for a child with a statement of Special Educational Need where the Nursery is named on the statement.
- If you are allocated a place at Nursery you will be contacted and receive a letter of confirmation from school. We ask that you complete the acceptance form that will be attached and return it to school to ensure your place is allocated.
- All new children and their parents will be invited to an initial visit to Nursery, where possible, before they begin. We expect all children and their parents/carers to attend. Additional ‘Settling in Days’ will be planned in consultation with each child’s parent.
- Regular attendance in Nursery is expected. If a child does not attend Nursery procedures will be followed as outlined in appendix 1.
- If you no longer require a place, or wish to be removed from our waiting list, please let the school office know on 01274 771166.
- Once a place has been accepted, any change in your circumstances leading to a place not being taken up, or requiring you to remove your child from the Nursery, our school and the other setting involved (if any), must first be consulted.
- At any time after admission you are no longer eligible under the ‘Eligibility Criteria’ your child will be allowed to continue to attend until the end of their entitlement.
- Children in the 2 year old provision will be given priority into the 3/4 year old nursery classes to ensure continuity in their nursery education.