Applying for a Primary School Place 2023
It’s that time of year again, when parents of 3 and 4 years old try to decide on a school choice for their little one. There is so much to consider before selecting a school for your child – the beginning of the educational journey and their first steps on the path of life. From catchment areas to key stages, league tables to local education authorities (LEA), there is much to get your head around.
So, we have put together a guide to help you choose the best primary school for your child, as with many choices in the educational journey there are many dilemmas and there is a huge difference between the theory of choosing a primary school and the practice.
The theory behind selecting a school is simple – as a parent you look at the schools in your local area, you are weighed down with Ofsted reports ( you can read them online but do remember as useful as they are they are only a brief snapshot into what a school is like and some are very dated so may not be a true reflection of a school https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/) and league tables, you visit (or watch the online video tour) and from this decide where you think your child will thrive. After making the decision you apply and your child is offered a place at your chosen school.
The practise is a whole different ball game.
Once you have decided which is your chosen school you suddenly realise the close net catchment area, the number of siblings in the year group – that to me likely to get in to your chosen school you need to move 20 metres closer. Religious schools can often be oversubscribed – to get your child in you may have to ‘prove’ your religious affiliations (but not always) – this could require a letter signed by a priest (or equivalent) There are many stories about the lengths people will go to in order to get this done – in reality its down to how far you are willing to adapt or bend the truth and how far your conscience will stretch. There is no wrap around care and you both work full time the list goes on!
As a final point – please remember that the fairly widespread practise of giving a false address (anywhere that is not your child’s main residence) constitutes fraud and authorities have been known to prosecute.
Now that being said let’s move on to our guide to help making your school choice and the application process smooth sailing.
When should I apply for my child school place?
You apply for a place for your child the academic year they turn four. It’s not compulsory for children to start school until the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday, but most start infant or primary school the September after their fourth birthday. From the term after their fifth birthday parents are required to ensure that their child receives an appropriate level of full-time education, if not at a state school, then privately or via home education.
For the September 2023 intake (children born between September 1st 2018 – August 31st 2019.) The admissions window for application in Essex closes on 15th January 2023. (https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-school-place)
If your child was born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019, you must apply for their reception school place for September 2023.
What happens when?
· Monday 7th November 2022 – application period opens in Essex (will vary slight per local area)
· Sunday 15th January 2023 – Application period closes for on time applications (application’s after this are treated as late applications)
· Monday 17th April – National Offer Day – you will be notified of your school placement.
Applications received after the closing date are treated as late applications. This means there will be far less chance of your child being offered a place at the school you want.
Can I defer my child’s school start date?
If you have a summer born child then you may be able to defer them starting school or stagger then start more gradually. However, they will still join Year One with their correct aged cohort. Whether this is a possibility would be up to the school and the local education authority – this would be something you should discuss with your school choice ahead of placing your application. Further information can be found on the Department for Education website. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summer-born-children-school-admission/admission-of-summer-born-children-advice-for-local-authorities-and-school-admission-authorities)
What should I look for when I am viewing a school?
Visiting a school will give you a great feel for a school and what it has to offer and this year most schools have returned to face to face tours so check your schools and get booked in. Many schools also have online tours too so check their websites. Looking on their social media pages and their websites will be key to helping you find out about the different schools in your area.
Things to consider when viewing a school in person:
What was the welcome like? Are the office staff friendly and helpful? Is the building well maintained – are the displays filled with high quality work that reflect the school’s ethos, values and learning opportunities – do children look happy?
What is the head like? (Or the person who shows you around) Do they know the children by name? are they relaxed and respectful? How do the pupils respond to the them? Body language is key to exploring how people feel and the relationship between the head or the school leaders and the staff and pupils will be evident on a tour.
How do the pupils behave? Is there the hustle and bustle of learning – as you would expect in a primary school? Are younger children engaged in play? Are older children engaged in learning – is it focused?
How do the teachers behave – do they appear to have good relationships with the head and their class. Are they working with children? Are children engaged by the adults in their room?
How safe and clean is the school? Are toilets easy to access – particularly for little ones. What is the outside area like – what provision is there for learning outside the classroom throughout the school? Is there a range of equipment for children to use? Do they have a variety of resources indoors to support learning?
Remember that it’s good to speak to other parents but even the best of friends can fundamentally disagree about what makes a great school. One parents ideal could be another parents’ nightmare.
If you get the opportunity to visit a school you will get a good idea of how you feel about it from your first impression, look at the display – the art work, the outdoor learning and extra-curricular activities. Are pupils well-presented and do they seem happy and well-behaved.
Here are some questions that you might want to ask:
· What does a typical day look like in the school?
· Do they have peer support – buddy systems, helps, play leaders?
· How will you be involved in your children learning and education?
· What is their discipline and reward system?
· What is the lunch provision – is there a healthy eating policy? Do all children have school dinners or can they bring in a lunch box – this is particularly important if your child has allergies or is a fussy eater.
· Do they have an on-site wrap around provision offering breakfast and after school care? What times does this run? If not, can they recommend a company that the school are familiar with?
· How are the non-core subjects taught in the school – what provision is there across the school for art, music, drama, forest school?
· Do they have teaching assistants supporting in each class?
· What is their SEN provision like (even if your children does not have any additional needs every child will benefit in a school when provision is high quality and well planned for.)
· Is there a PTA – how active is it? How can you support it?
After all of the researching and exploring it’s integral that you remember that you know your child better than anyone else. When making your school choices think carefully. What would encourage your children to learn, develop and thrive? Some children love sitting and creating, others love exploring the library and books, another may thrive learning outdoors. You know your child and it’s important that you know what your chosen school can offer – are they offering a broad and balanced curriculum with time for high quality art and sport? Is the school focused on academic learning? Do they offer learning outside the classroom and forest school.
Once you have looked at the schools and made your decision – what next?
Visit your local authorities school admissions page. Set up your access to the portal so you can complete and submit your application.
List your school choices carefully. Remember you are not choosing a school but rather listing those you would like your child to attend. Although you make have a ‘favourite’ you should be happy with all of your choices You have a number of choices depending on your area so ensure that you fill in every choice, if you leave blank spaces you risk being offered an undesirable, undersubscribed school some distance away.
Once you are happy. Ensure you have submitted your application and print a copy for your reference.
What next? Once you have submitted your application you put it to the back of your mind and enjoy the final year before your child starts school full time. Offers will be sent to online applicants by email on 17 April 2023.
What if I get a school I don’t want? If you have chosen carefully you should be happy with any of your schools. Appealing the decision if you are unhappy with the outcome of your application is unlikely to work. Successful primary application appeals are rare and are dependent on the local authority making a mistake when assessing an application. Long journeys to the school or having siblings at a different school are not grounds for an appeal. However, if you have a genuine case, it's worth getting good advice and challenging the decision.
Good luck and we hope you enjoy this next exciting step for your child and yourself!
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