Primary Education in Essex 2015/2016 - Your guide to starting primary education or transferring from infant to junior school
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Primary Education in Essex 2015/2016 Your guide to starting primary education or transferring from infant to junior school Closing date for applications 15 January 2015 Apply online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions
Page 2
Parents and carers who live in Essex You will be able to make your application
can now apply for their child’s school online from 10 November 2014.
place online using the Essex Online The closing date for primary applications is
Admissions Service at: 15 January 2015. This is the statutory national
closing date set by the Government.
www.essex.gov.uk/admissions Please note that it is not possible to apply for a
junior school or a mid-year place on line.
The online application system has a number
of benefits for parents and carers:
• the online system is open 24/7 during the
application period;
• you can access related information through
links on the website to find out more about
individual schools, such as home to school
transport or inspection reports;
• you will be sent an email to confirm that your
application has been received;
• you will be told the outcome of your
application by email on offer day.Page 3
Contents
Online admissions 2 Co-ordinated admission arrangements and 17
what they mean
Introduction 4
The application process explained 18
Timetable for primary school admissions 5
Appeals against admission decisions 19–20
Essential information for parents 6–16 • Making an appeal 19
• Common Application Form (CAF) 6 • Infant class size appeals 19
• Supplementary Information Form (SIF) 6 • After you have lodged your appeal 19
• Applying to schools outside Essex 6 • At your hearing 19
• Closing date for applications 6 • Grouped appeal hearings 20
• Year 2 to 3 applications 7 • The decision 20
• When can my child start school? 7–8
• Nursery classes 8 Special educational needs and Essex 21–22
• Pre-school education 8 special schools
• Priority admission areas 8 • Transport for children with statements 21
• Types of schools 9 of special educational needs
• Using all your preferences 9 • Special schools in Essex 22
• School preference order 9
• Changing preferences 10 Home to school transport 23–24
• Home address 10 • Mainstream primary schools 23
• Shared parental responsibility 10 • Points to remember 23
• Address checking 10 • Sustainable modes of transport scheme 24
• Fraudulent/misleading applications 10 • Spare seat scheme 24
• Moving house 11
• Distance tie breaker 11 Financial assistance for parents and 25
• Siblings 11–12 students
• Will my child’s brothers and sisters be 12 • Uniform grants 25
able to go to the same school? • Free school meals 25
• Twins, triplets etc. 12 School term dates 26
• Children who are cared for by a 12
local authority (Looked After Children) School governors 26
• Medical circumstances 12
Primary schools in Essex 27
• Admission of children from overseas 13
• How decisions are made 13 School information explained 28
• Withdrawal of offers 13
• No application for a school place is 13 A guide to information sources 29
submitted
Useful addresses and telephone 30–31
• Late applications 14
numbers
• None of your preferences can be met 14
• Infant class size legislation 14
• If you are not offered a place 14 Pull-out centre section –
• Waiting lists 15 The Essex Common Application Form,
• I’ve decided I would prefer a lower 15 notes of guidance and application checklist.
preference school
• Continued interest in a school after the 15
end of the autumn term
• I want to change primary schools 16
• Fair Access Protocol 17
The information contained in the booklet is correct as at the time of printing. Policies may change in the
light of decisions made by the Schools’ Adjudicator or any changes in the law. An addendum will be
available on the website and on request.Page 4
Introduction
Welcome to Primary Education in Essex The LA’s School Admissions team provides help to
2015/2016. This booklet is for parents and carers parents applying for primary or secondary places
living in Essex whose children will be starting in Essex and is responsible for the co-ordination
primary education or transferring from infant of admissions to all Essex maintained schools and
to junior school in Essex in the school year that Academies. If you require any assistance with your
begins in September 2015. application, School Admissions will do its very
best to help you.
Please take the time to read this booklet carefully
as it will help you through the application process. I hope that your child has an enjoyable and fruitful
It gives you the information you need to help you primary education, and I wish them every success
make an informed application for your child’s for the future.
primary education. It also explains how places are
allocated and how to appeal if you are refused a
place at your preferred school(s). Vital information
is included to help you through the co-ordinated
admissions process. Please make use of all your
preferences.
We have an online applications system through Councillor Ray Gooding
which over 90% of applications were submitted Cabinet Member for Education
last year. Applying online allows you to complete and Lifelong Learning.
the process quickly and easily over the internet.
Alternatively an application form can be found on
our website or you can request a paper form if you
would prefer to apply on paper. Please do not
do both.
The Local Authority (LA) is the part of Essex County
Council which has responsibility for the provision
of school places across the county.
Key Points to Remember
• APPLY ON TIME - deadline 15 January 2015.
• Use all 4 preferences.
• Tell us immediately in writing (email or post)
about any address change.Page 5
Timetable for primary school admissions 2015/2016
Keeping track of your application
As deadlines are a critical part of the process of applying for a child’s primary school place, a step by
step timetable is here to assist parents. You can use it to check that you have done what you need to and
received the necessary information and correspondence. The Local Authority sends all correspondence
“in good faith” that it will be received on time. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your
application, including the offer letter or email then please contact School Admissions immediately.
DATE PROCEDURE ACTION BY
Week commencing Application information sent to all parents LA
3 November 2014 of eligible Essex resident children registered with an Essex GP when
the data was received from the Health Authority. The Primary Education in Essex
2015/2016 booklet is on the ECC website.
10 November 2014 Online applications facility opens. LA/Parents
October 2014 – Visit the admissions website and read through this booklet, find out Parents
15 January 2015 about and visit schools. It is important to consider how your child
will get to school.
15 January 2015 LAST DAY FOR RECEIPT OF COMMON APPLICATION FORM Parents
EITHER PAPER OR ONLINE.
Applications received after this date will generally be treated as late.
The online admissions system will not accept applications after this
date.
January – April 2015 Admission policies for schools are applied to relevant applications Schools and LA
– see page 18 for an explanation of the process.
6 February 2015 The last date that evidence of changes of address can definitely be Parents/LA
accepted to be included in the first round of offers on 16 April 2015.
February – March 2015 Information exchanged with other authorities and preferences sorted to LA
identify the highest that can be met – see examples on page 17.
16 April 2015 NATIONAL OFFER DATE. Offer letter sent to all Essex resident applicants. Parents/LA
An email will also be sent to those who applied online and
who asked for it, confirming the outcome of their application.
If you DO NOT receive a letter by 25 April 2015 then please contact
School Admissions.
April – 29 August Waiting lists are maintained for all oversubscribed schools and any LA
2015 places that become available are filled.
15 May 2015 The latest date to lodge an appeal against a refusal of a place Parents
if you want it to be heard before the end of the summer term.
June – July 2015 Appeals held. Schools and LA
4 September 2015 LA ceases to maintain waiting lists for foundation, voluntary LA
aided schools and Academies.Page 6
Essential information for parents
This booklet contains the arrangements for you can contact the school directly to find out if a
admissions to schools as carried out by Essex SIF is needed.
County Council in accordance with statutory
regulations and guidance from the Department for Please remember that completing a SIF on its own
Education and the statutory instruments. is not an application – you must complete the
Common Application Form and send it to us.
Common Application Forms (CAFs) and Parents seeking information should note that the
Supplementary Information Forms (SIFs) LA will only discuss specific details about your
Parents1 living in Essex2 must apply to Essex child’
County Council for their preferred primary or infant
schools. The Essex Common Application Form Applying to schools outside Essex
(CAF) is the only way you can apply for a primary Primary school admissions are fully co-ordinated
or infant school place for your child. The CAF can across the country. This means that if you are
either be completed and submitted online at resident in Essex you only need to fill out one
www.essex.gov.uk/admissions or you can form, the CAF, even if some or all of your preferred
complete and return the form in the centre of this primary schools are outside Essex. Please apply
booklet. Please do not do both. If more than one online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions or
application is received the authority will process complete and return a paper application form.
the last one to be submitted. You must submit your Please do not do both.
CAF by 15 January 2015.
Closing date for applications
Your online application will be acknowledged
The statutory national closing date for all
by email only. Paper applications will be
applications whether online or paper is 15 January
acknowledged within 10 working days by letter
2015. It is vital that you apply on time.
only. Please contact School Admissions if you do
not receive an acknowledgement. Applications received after this date will normally
be treated as late and will receive a lower priority.
Some schools will need extra information to
rank your application against their admission
criteria. These schools will ask you to complete
a Supplementary Information Form (SIF). Most
schools of a religious character will ask you to
complete a SIF.
Where a SIF is required, this is made clear in the
school’s admission policy which you can find on
our website. You will need to look online at www.
essex.gov.uk/admissions and find the relevant
school to see if it has a SIF (it will be displayed
under the Admission Policy for 2015/16 if a SIF is
required). You can also view a copy of the Schools
Admission Policies Directory for your area on the
website to find out if a SIF is required. Alternatively
1
Parents include guardians and carers or any person who has parental responsibility or care of the child.
2
If you live in Essex your council tax will be payable to one of the following District Councils: Basildon, Braintree,
Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring or Uttlesford.Page 7
Essential information for parents
continued
Year 2 to Year 3 applications When can my child start school?
If your child currently attends an infant school As required by law, all infant and primary schools
you will have to make an application to transfer provide full-time admission for all children offered
to the partner junior school. Children who attend a place in the reception year group from the
most infant schools in Essex are now guaranteed September following their fourth birthday. This
a place at their partner junior school, provided an means that you have the right to a full time place
application for that place is made by the closing at the school your child is offered from September
date, and the child is still in attendance at the 2015. Research has shown that outcomes are
school at the time applications are determined. better for reception children who start school in
For parents who wish their child to only transfer September.
to the partner junior school, the application will
simply involve registering at the junior school. The law does not require a child to start school
Parents who wish to apply for a Year 3 place at until the start of the term following their fifth
schools other than the partner junior school, or birthday. Compulsory school age is reached at that
for other schools at a higher preference than the point. Parents can request that the date their child
partner junior school, will need to complete an is admitted to school is deferred until later in the
application form. school year or until the child reaches compulsory
school age in the school year. Where entry is
There are a small number of junior schools deferred, the school will hold the place for that
where children from local infant schools are not child and not offer it to another child. The parent
guaranteed a place and parents applying to those would not however be able to defer entry beyond
schools will have to complete an application the beginning of the term after the child’s fifth
form. Full details of how to register for your child’s birthday, nor beyond the academic year for which
partner junior school or to apply for other Year the original application was accepted.
3 places, together with an application form for
those who need one, will be provided to parents of Parents can also request that their child attends
known children in Year 2 of Essex infant schools in part-time until the child reaches compulsory
November 2014. school age. You would need to check with the
individual school(s) what the part-time provision
Year 2 children moving into an area, who are would be.
admitted to an infant school where a guaranteed
place in the partner junior school is normally Where parents choose to defer entry, the school
available, will not be guaranteed a place if may reasonably expect that the child would start at
evidence of their new address is received after the beginning of a new school term/half term.
6 February 2015. However, where the parent of a ‘summer-born’
Where parents of children in Year 2 of an infant child (13 April – 31 August) wishes their child to
school apply, in the normal admission round, for a start school in the autumn term following their fifth
place in Year 3 of a primary school (which does not birthday, they will need to apply for a place at the
have a Published Admission Number for normal correct time for the normal admission round for
admission at that time) that preference will be the following academic year. Supporting evidence
treated as a casual admission. A decision will not from relevant professionals working with the child
be made until after the summer half term break and family stating why the child must be placed
when there is likely to be a clearer indication of outside their normal age appropriate cohort must
potential places at the school in September. be submitted. The LA/admission authority will
decide whether the application for a Reception
place will be accepted or whether it will be treatedPage 8
Essential information for parents
continued
as an application for a Year 1 place, the child’s Priority admission areas
normal age appropriate cohort. If the application Although schools no longer guarantee places to
for a Reception place is not accepted this does not children living in their priority admission area,
constitute a refusal of a place and there is no right many include living in the priority admission
to an independent statutory appeal. area as one of their oversubscription criteria. We
recommend that you consider listing your local/
Nursery classes
priority admission (catchment) area school, if you
Nursery education, for children from the age of have one, as one of your preferences to give you a
three years old, is available in some schools. better chance of getting a place at a local school.
Those with nursery classes are identified in If you do not include your local/priority admission
the Schools’ Admission Policies Directory for area school and you are not offered a place at any
your area, which you can view on our website of your preferred schools, it is possible that your
or which is available from School Admissions. child could be offered a place several miles away
The admission of children to a nursery class in from your home address.
a school is the responsibility of the school’s
governing body. Confirmation of your priority admission area
school is available by using our ‘Catchment Area
The information in the Schools’ Admission Finder’ tool on our website www.essex.gov.uk/
Policies Directory, about admission numbers and admissions.
policies, only applies to children being admitted to
reception classes and generally to admissions to Attendance at a priority admission area
other year groups in schools. (catchment) school does not guarantee
entitlement to free home to school transport (see
Attendance at a nursery attached to a school or a page 23).
co-located children’s centre, does not guarantee
admission to the school. Parents of children who
are attending such nursery provision must apply After the first round of offers are made on 16
for a place at the school if they want their child April 2015, some schools may apply mid-year
to attend the reception class. The application will admissions protocols to admit children moving
be considered against the published admission into their area where there is no other school with
criteria for the school. There is no guarantee that a space within a reasonable distance.
place will be offered.
Pre-school education
There are a range of options open to parents
for ‘early years’ education for their child. For
information and advice on early years education
and registered childcare. Please contact the Essex
Family Information Service on 0800 055 6874
or email them at fis@essex.gov.uk. The Family
Information Service can also provide information
about childminders, nursery education, pre-
schools, day nurseries, playgroups, crèches,
breakfast/after school clubs and holiday schemes
for all children from the ages of 0 to 14 years.Page 9
Essential information for parents
continued
Types of schools
All schools in Essex (except independent fee have been dealt with. This could mean your child
paying schools) are known as maintained schools being allocated a school several miles away
or Academies. There are several types of school from your home address. Your local school must
outlined below. The list of schools in the Schools’ be one of your preferences in order for it to be
Admission Policy Directories show which type of considered; this will not be done automatically.
school each one is. The differences relating to
Applying for more than one school does not in
pupil admissions are:
any way reduce your chances of being offered
• community schools – the Local Authority (LA) your highest preference so please do aim to use
is the admission authority3; all of your preferences.
• voluntary controlled schools (VC) – these
School preference order
schools often have a religious character,
normally Church of England. The LA is the You should put your preferences in the order
admission authority3; you really want them. If parents differ as to
the preferences they wish to express for their
• foundation schools - the school’s governing child, they should resolve that difference
body is the admission authority3; before making an application, as the LA will
• voluntary aided schools (VA) – these schools only process one application for each child and
have a religious character often Church of cannot get involved in any dispute on the matter.
England, Roman Catholic or Jewish. The
school’s governing body is the admission The rank order of your preferences is confidential
authority3; to the LA and will only be shared with schools
in the event of appeals. In accordance with the
• Academies – these are independent schools statutory School Admissions Code, schools must
in the maintained sector. The Academy’s not use admissions criteria that requires you
admission policy and arrangements must be to put them as first preference to gain a higher
consistent with admissions law and the School priority. No Essex schools use such criteria.
Admissions Code and the Academy Trust is the If your preferred schools are not in Essex you
admission authority3; should check their admissions criteria carefully.
• Free Schools – these are Academy schools Contact details for local authorities bordering
set up in response to parental demand. The Essex can be found on page 31.
Academy Trust is the admission authority3.
It is important that, when selecting your
preferences for school admission, you take
Using all your preferences into account how you will transport your child
We recommend that you use all of your to school. The following website may give you
preferences and consider including your local/ useful information about alternatives if your child
priority admission (catchment) area school as one will not qualify for home to school transport:
of your preferences. If you express a preference for www.essex.gov.uk/publictransport or www.
a school and a place cannot be offered, you will travelinesoutheast.org.uk. See pages 23-24 for
be allocated a place at the nearest school to the more details.
home address with a place available, after all the
other on time applications
An admission authority is responsible for all aspects of pupil admissions and appeals.
3Page 10
Essential information for parents
continued
Changing preferences Shared parental responsibility
You can change your preferences on your online Where both parents share parental responsibility
application by logging into and amending your and live at different addresses and they cannot
existing application and resubmitting it, as long agree on the application for a school place, (and
as this change is made by the closing date. If you this is apparent to the Council), the applications
applied on paper you will need to write to School will be held in abeyance until either agreement is
Admissions before the closing date so your letter reached, demonstrated by both parents confirming
is received by 15 January 2015. this in writing, or a court order is obtained
confirming which parent’s application carries
After the closing date, a change request will not precedence. Failure to secure an agreement before
be accepted, unless this is for an address change. the published offer date could prejudice your
Any requests must be submitted to School child’s chances of gaining a place in a preferred
Admissions in writing, whether you applied online school.
or by paper. You can email admissions@essex.
gov.uk Address checking
Home address The LA may ask a random sample of applicants to
provide proof of their home address. This must be
Applications will normally be processed on the a copy of one of the following:
basis of the home address for the child at the
time of application and determination (when • UK driving licence;
decisions are made about places offered). The • council tax notification;
home address is considered to be the address at
which the child resides on a permanent basis or is • two utility bills dated within the last six
‘ordinarily resident’. This is generally the address months (gas, electricity, water or landline
of the parent/carer. In some cases, children may phone).
be ‘ordinarily resident’ for the majority of the Fraudulent/Misleading applications
school week, including overnight, with another
Regrettably, on occasion some parents give false
relative or carer, such as a grandparent. Where
information about their home address to get a
this is the case, the application may be processed
place at a particular school. This is completely
on the basis of that address and proof of address
unacceptable and can have the effect of denying
and residence arrangement will be required with
a place to a child with a more genuine claim. The
the application. The child must be living with the
County Council expects that all applications are
relative or carer 24 hours per day, for the majority
made in good faith giving the correct information.
of the school week.
Where there is reasonable doubt as to the validity
Arrangements where parents can leave and collect
of a home address, the LA reserves the right to
children from another relative or carer on a daily
take additional checking measures including,
basis will be regarded as childcare arrangements,
in some cases, unannounced home visits. If a
and the child will not be deemed to be ‘ordinarily
school place is secured through false information
resident’ with that person. In all cases we expect
regarding a home address, the LA, in consultation
that the adult with whom the child is ‘ordinarily
with the admission authority, has the right to
resident’ receives the child benefit for the child.
withdraw the place and will exercise that right in
Some foundation, VA schools and Academies have relevant cases.
different rules on home address. You should check
each school’s policy.Page 11
Essential information for parents
continued
Moving house/changing address details Distance tie-breaker
If you move address either within Essex or into Most schools use distance to prioritise their
Essex during the admissions process, you must applications, both within each individual criterion
notify School Admissions immediately by e-mail and as a final criterion. Straight line distance is
or letter. You should provide (proof of exchange of commonly used; however, a small number of
contracts if you have purchased your new home, schools measure by the shortest walking route.
or tenancy agreement if you are renting). If there
are changes to your plans you must let School All straight line distances are calculated
Admissions know immediately or your child’s offer electronically by the LA using data provided jointly
of a place could be withdrawn. by the Post Office and Ordnance Survey. The data
is used to plot the co-ordinates of each individual
If you know you are moving to Essex before the property and school and provides the address
closing date for applications but are not able to points between which the straight line distance is
provide evidence by that date, you must apply for measured. Distances are reported in miles to three
Essex schools via your home authority. decimal places in the first instance. In the unlikely
If you make an online application and you have event of two applicants with an identical distance
moved house it is not sufficient only to change competing for a single place at a school the place
your address on your online application. You must will be offered to one applicant on the basis of
inform School Admissions in writing by e-mail lots drawn by an officer of the County Council not
or letter, and provide evidence of your move as involved in admissions, with the exception of
described above. twins, triplets etc.
If this evidence is received after 6 February 2015, Siblings
we cannot guarantee that your application will be For all community and VC schools, and for some
processed using your new address. If your child foundation, VA schools and Academies (indicated
is subsequently placed on a waiting list where by ‡ in the school’s admission policy) the
the position is influenced by home address, following definition applies:
your new address will be used to determine your
position. Please note that if you are applying for A relevant sibling is a child who has a brother,
a place at schools outside Essex there may be sister, adopted brother or sister or stepbrother
different dates after which a new address can or stepsister living in the same family unit, in
be considered. If you are in doubt please contact the same family household and address, who
School Admissions. attends the preferred school in any year group
excluding the final year. Biological siblings who
If you own a property in Essex but are not living attend the preferred school in any year group
in it, but intend to take up residency at the Essex excluding the final year will also be treated as
home before the start of the autumn term, then siblings, irrespective of place of residence.
evidence of this address must be provided for the Children residing in the same household as part
application. Any offer of a school place will then be of an extended family, such as cousins, will not be
conditional upon receipt of evidence of you taking treated as siblings.
up residency at that property in Essex.
For mid-year applications, the only variation to the
definition above is the child should be attending
or has been offered a place, at the preferred school
at the time of application and determination and
with a reasonable expectation that the sibling willPage 12
Essential information for parents
continued
be attending at the time of admission. Biological Children who are cared for by a local
siblings who attend the preferred school will be authority (Looked After Children)
treated as siblings irrespective of their place of
A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously
residence.
looked after but immediately after being looked
Foundation and VA schools and Academies may after became subject to an adoption, residence
have different definitions of a sibling. If you are in or special guardianship order will be given first
any doubt please contact the school. priority in oversubscription criteria, ahead of all
other applicants, in accordance with the School
Will my child’s brothers and sisters Admissions Code 2012. A looked after child is a
be able to go to the same school? child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or
You should check the priority given to siblings in (b) being provided with accommodation by a local
each school’s admissions criteria to assess the authority in the exercise of their social services
chances of this. There is no automatic guarantee functions (as defined in Section 22(1) of the
that siblings can go to the same school. Your Children Act 1989).
chances will be reduced if you do not apply on
time.
Medical circumstances
Some schools may give priority based on medical
Twins, triplets etc. circumstances. You should check the school’s
For community and voluntary controlled schools in admission policy and send any supporting
the normal admission round, if the last child to be evidence to the school directly. If the school is
offered a place is a twin and their sibling cannot in another local authority, check with the school
be offered initially, the LA will ensure both twins where to send any evidence.
are offered a place. In the case of triplets or other
multiple births, if the majority of children can be
Admission of children from overseas
offered a place initially, the LA will offer places All children of compulsory school age (5 to
to the remaining child(ren). For example if two 16 years) in the UK have a right of access to
triplets can be offered a place, the remaining child education. However, where the child is in the UK
will also receive an offer of a place. for a short period only, for example less than half a
term, it may be reasonable to refuse admission to
For mid-year applications, where a family moves a school.
into an area necessitating a change of school for
their twins (or triplets etc.) and the majority can be Children who hold full British Citizen passports
offered a place then a place will be offered for the (not British Dependent Territories or British
remaining child(ren). However, where the family Overseas passports), have a passport endorsed
does not move but wishes to transfer the children to show a right of abode in the UK or are
to another local school where there are insufficient European Economic Area nationals normally have
places for all of them, then places would not unrestricted entry to the UK. An application for a
normally be offered to all. school place will be accepted for such children
even though they may not be resident in the UK
For foundation and VA schools and Academies the at the time of application. The application may
decision will be made by the governing body or however be processed on the basis of the overseas
Academy Trust. address.
If an applicant meeting the above criteria owns a
property in Essex but is not living in it, but intends
to take up residency at the Essex home before thePage 13
Essential information for parents
continued
start of the relevant term, then evidence of this If you do not intend to apply because you will be
address must be provided for the application. Any sending your child to an independent school (fee-
offer of a school place will then be conditional paying), or other reason, please inform School
upon receipt of evidence of taking up residency at Admissions.
that property in Essex.
Late applications
Other children from overseas do not generally have Applications received after the closing date of 15
automatic right of entry to the UK. An application January 2015 will be treated as late. This means
for a school place will not therefore be accepted your application will be dealt with after all on time
until they are resident in the UK. Proof of residency applications have been processed, unless there
such as endorsed passport or entry visa will be is evidence, or you provide evidence, to show that
required with the application. the application could not reasonably have been
How decisions are made made on time. A new on time preference will not
be accepted after the closing date unless the
Each school has a Published Admission Number circumstances are deemed to be exceptional.
(PAN) which is the maximum number of children
the school can admit each year. If there are more All late applications will be considered by
applications than the PAN then the school’s LA officers to determine whether there are
oversubscription criteria will be applied. This exceptional circumstances. Where that is deemed
is a set of rules against which applications are to be the case, the application will be treated as
prioritised, for example by siblings or distance. ‘on time’4.
The admission policy for each school is available
to view on our website by selecting the individual None of your preferences can be met
school or in the Schools’ Admission Policies In the unlikely event of none of your preferences
Directory for your area (also viewable on line or as being met because other applicants meet the
a paper copy on request). It sets out a summary admission criteria better, if you are an Essex
of the oversubscription criteria. The directory resident you will be offered a place at the nearest
also includes information on the number of school to your home address with a space
applications received and the last admission available. Remember to use all your preferences.
criterion reached last year for primary and infant For September 2014 2.89% of Essex parents
schools. This information can help you assess the could not be offered any of their preferences
chances of your application being successful. whilst 93.55% were offered their first or second
Withdrawal of an offer preference of primary school.
If a school place has been secured through false
information or has been offered in error, the offer
of the place may be withdrawn.
No application for a school place is
submitted
It is the responsibility of the parent or carer to
ensure that the application is received by School
Admissions by 15 January 2015. If you fail to
submit an application you will not be offered a
school place.
It is not possible to treat any application received after 6 February 2015 as on time. In addition, any
4
applications or change requests received after 6 February 2015 will be held and not considered until after
the first round of offers on 16 April 2015.Page 14
Essential information for parents
continued
Infant class size legislation Panels have to weigh the disruption and difficulty to
The law requires all primary and infant schools the school and the quality of education it delivers,
to ensure that there are no more than 30 pupils (referred to as ‘prejudice’) as a result of having an
in an infant class with one school teacher. This additional pupil, against the predjudice to the child
requirement has led to schools removing their if they did not attend that school.
guarantee of a place for priority admission Some parents express concern that their appeal
area children. This legislation restricts the has been ‘a waste of time’. An appeal is never a
circumstances under which appeal panels can waste of time but you should carefully consider
uphold an appeal for an infant place. your reasons for your child attending the school,
particularly where the infant class size limit of 30
If you are not offered a place
pupils is concerned.
If you are not offered a place at a preferred school
the law requires that you be given the right to From figures available at the time of preparing this
appeal to an independent appeal panel. booklet, for Year R admissions in the academic
year 2014/2015, there have been 415 appeals
Legislation has restricted the power of appeal for places where the infant class size limit was
panels where the refusal of a place has been involved, of which 15 (3.6%) were successful.
based on the infant class size limit of 30 pupils. There were 32 further appeals not involving the
Please see page 19 for more information. infant class size limit of which 11 (34.4%) were
When the refusal of the place is not based on the successful.
infant class size limit, you must give your reasons This information is intended to help parents decide
why as to you want your child to attend that whether it is worthwhile pursuing an appeal in the
school. Independent appeal panels can grant event that their application is unsuccessful.
a place at a school even when the admission
authority has demonstrated that the process has
been carried out properly, and all the available
places have been filled.Page 15
Essential information for parents
continued
Waiting lists Continued interest in a school after the
After 16 April 2015, all unsuccessful applications end of the autumn term
that are a higher preference than the school Waiting lists are not automatically maintained
offered will be held on a waiting list, according to after the end of the autumn term for community
the admissions criteria for the school. This applies and voluntary controlled schools. This means
to both on time and late applications. that if you have been refused in the normal
admissions round but still want a place, you will
School Admissions will hold waiting lists for all
have to contact us to put your child’s name on a
Essex oversubscribed schools until the end of
continued interest list. For reception applicants
August 2015. Applicants will be ranked in priority
the registration form is available from November.
order, according to the school’s admission
It should be completed and returned before the
criteria. After this date Essex LA will continue
end of December to ensure your child is on the list
to maintain the waiting lists for oversubscribed
from January.
community and voluntary controlled schools until
the end of the autumn term 2015. Oversubscribed If a place becomes available those on the list will
foundation and voluntary aided schools and be ranked along with any other applications that
Academies are required to maintain their own have been received for a place at the school.
waiting lists as a minimum, until the end of the
autumn term. Waiting list positions can change, When there are more live applications, on the
for example, as a result of an offer of a place being same day, than the number of places available,
made or as new applications for the school are the school’s admission criteria will be used to
received. It is possible, therefore, that a child’s determine any offers that can be made.
position on a waiting list could move down as well This situation may be different if you are applying
as up. for a place at a foundation or voluntary aided
If you are in any doubt, please check with the school or Academy. You will need to contact the
relevant admission authority.5 school to see how they handle your continued
interest in a place.5
I’ve decided I would prefer a lower
preference school than the one I have
been offered
Although you will be given the right of appeal for
any preference for which you were not offered a
place, you will only be automatically held on a
waiting list for any Essex preferences higher than
the one offered. If, having received your offer, you
decide you would rather your child attends one
of your lower preference schools, please put this
request in writing to School Admissions. Your
application to that school will then be reactivated
and, if there are no places available, added to the
appropriate place on the waiting list.
5
If you have applied for a non-Essex school and have not been offered a place, it is your responsibility as the
parent or carer to find out how waiting lists for schools in other LA areas are operated. This includes what
happens if an offer is made from a waiting list.Page 16
Essential information for parents
continued
I want to change primary schools Fair Access Protocol
(mid-year) The Local Authority has a Fair Access Protocol to
If you wish your child to transfer from one primary ensure that schools and the LA work together to
school to another, you should contact School ensure that access to education is secured swiftly
Admissions. The opportunity to transfer depends for children that have no school place.
on places being available at the preferred school.
The aim of the protocol is to encourage close
If a place can be offered, it is usually made
co-operation between schools, when allocating
available at the start of the following term. If
places for pupils who are ‘ hard to place’ (for
no places are available your application will be
example children with challenging behaviour) that
refused and you will be given the right of appeal.
balances the needs of parents, children
Applications for transfer will not ordinarily
and schools.
be determined until the half term prior to the
requested admission date. In addition, under the protocol the LA can, in
exceptional cases, approach schools and ask
Changing schools is a serious step to take. them to admit children over their admission
Before applying please discuss the reasons number where, for example, a child has moved
for your request with your child’s current into an area and there are no schools within a
headteacher. You should not remove your child reasonable distance of the child’s home with a
from their current school before securing a place available.
place at another school. A school may admit a Children considered for admission under the Fair
child over the admission number and outside Access Protocol will take precedence over children
the admission criteria mid-year where they have on a waiting list who are attending another school.
been excluded from another school or are being
placed as a move supported by all agencies. If, having applied for a place, your child is still left
with no school place at all please contact School
Admissions for more advice.
If, having applied for a place, your child is still left
with no school place at all please contact School
Admissions for more advice.
The LA has a ‘Fair Access’ officer who can offer
advice and assistance where no schools in the
vicinity have vacancies.Page 17 Co-ordinated admission arrangements and what they mean The law requires a Local Authority (LA) to co-ordinate admissions to all primary schools (except independent (fee-paying) or special schools) in their area. Primary schools includes infant schools. Essex parents must apply for primary school places by completing the Common Application Form. This can either be completed online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions, or you can use a paper application form. Please do not do both. Parents can express preferences for up to four schools both in and out of Essex, in the order in which they would like them considered. On 16 April 2015, parents will be sent one offer of a place at the highest preference school that can be met. If none of the preferences can be met, a place will be offered at the nearest school to the child’s home address with a space available. Here are some examples of this process: Example 1 – Parent has applied for four schools and the first preference can be met: Preference 1 – Offered Preference 2 – Not offered – right to appeal given* Preference 3 – Not offered – right to appeal given* Preference 4 – Not offered – right to appeal given* Example 2 – Parent has applied for four schools and the second preference can be met: Preference 1 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal given Preference 2 – Offered Preference 3 – Not offered – right to appeal given* Preference 4 – Not offered – right to appeal given* Example 3 – Parent has applied to four schools and no preference can be met: Preference 1 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal given* Preference 2 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal given* Preference 3 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal given* Preference 4 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal given* Child will then be offered a place at the nearest school to the home address with a space available. * You will note from examples 1 and 2 that children are only held on waiting lists for preferences higher than the one that can be met. On 16 April 2015 (National Offer Day) parents will be sent a letter containing the result of their application. An email will also be sent to parents who have applied online and who have asked for it, confirming the outcome of their application.
Page 18
The application process explained
Stage 1
Paper Application form Details entered onto Application acknowledged
Application received. LA database. by letter within 10 days.
OR
Online Application made using Application acknowledged Details will be transferred
Application onto
online facility. by email. LA database.
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS IS 15 JANUARY 2015
Stage 2
Schools’ admission LA database is updated
Results are collated by
policies are applied and information is
School Admissions.
to all applications. exchanged with other LAs.
Stage 3
The highest preference
Preferences that can be Information from other
offer is decided and the
offered are identified. LAs added to database.
pupil record updated.
Stage 4
16 APRIL 2015 – NATIONAL OFFER DAY
An offer letter will be sent to all parents giving the results of their application.
Email sent to online applicants who have requested it, giving the result of their application.
Pupils will be held on a waiting list for any schools of higher preference than that offered unless
parents inform School Admissions that they no longer wish to be considered for a place. Waiting lists
will be maintained by the LA for all schools until the end of August 2015.
If a place becomes
Parents are given the right
available then the child
to appeal against all
at the top of the waiting list
preferences not offered.
will be offered the place.
If none of your preferences can be met you will be
offered a place at the nearest school to the
home address with a space available.Page 19
Appeals against admission decisions
Making an appeal After you have made your appeal
If your child has not been offered a place at your You will be advised in advance of the date of your
preferred school you have the statutory right to meeting called a ‘hearing’. Wherever possible the
appeal to an independent appeal panel against appeal hearings will take place in the area local to
the decision not to admit your child. If you decide the school for which you are appealing.
to appeal, you have 20 school days from the date
of your refusal letter to make your appeal. This is You are encouraged to attend your appeal in
to ensure that it is heard along with all others. person. If you do not attend, and do not inform
the clerk, the panel may consider your appeal in
Detailed information about how to appeal will be your absence. You should remember that if your
sent to you with your offer pack. appeal is heard in your absence, the panel will be
unable to ask further questions about any details
Infant class appeals (Key Stage 1 appeals) of your case, which they may wish to clarify, before
Legislation has been introduced to enable schools reaching a decision. Your appeal will usually be
to meet the requirement that there will be no more heard in private and as informally as possible.
than 30 pupils in an infant class with one school If you wish, you may bring a friend, relative or
teacher6. This legislation restricts appeals panels representative. Normally at least five days before
to only allow successful appeals on one of three the hearing you will be sent a written summary of
grounds where admission would exceed the class the admission authority’s case for not being able
size limit, either: to offer your child a place at the preferred school.
• it finds that the admission of additional At your hearing
children would not breach the infant class size There will be three panel members who will be
limit; or introduced to you. A clerk will also be present to
• it finds that the admission arrangements record the panel’s decisions and advise on the law
did not comply with admissions law or were and procedure. A representative of the admission
not correctly and impartially applied and the authority will present the case for not meeting your
child would have been offered a place if the preference.
arrangements had complied or had been
correctly or impartially applied; or The panel will have copies of your appeal (plus
any letters or additional information you may
• it decides that the decision to refuse have sent in support of the appeal) together with
admission was not one which a reasonable information on why your preference has not been
admission authority would have made in the met. If you attend, the hearing will usually follow
circumstances of the case. this pattern:
This means that an appeal for a place in
the reception year, year one or year two, • the case for not meeting your preference will
has limited grounds for success where the be presented;
admission authority’s grounds for refusal is • you, or your representative, may ask
based on infant class sizes of 30. questions;
It is advisable that you consider carefully whether • you, or your representative, will present your
to submit an appeal in such a case to avoid case;
unnecessary disappointment. • you may be asked questions;
• the reasons for not meeting your preference
will be summarised;
• you, or your representative, will be given the
opportunity to summarise your case.
Defined by Section 122 of the Education Act 2002 and the Education (School Teachers’ Prescribed
6
Qualifications etc.) order 2003 which was made under that section.Page 20 Essential information for parents continued Grouped appeal hearings Essex LA’s policy, which applies to community When there are a large number of appeals for and voluntary controlled schools, where a one school they may be heard using the ‘grouped parent’s appeal is not successful, is that we will appeal’ system. There are normally two stages not consider another application for the same to this process. At the first stage, the admission school in the same academic year unless there authority will present its case to all parents (and have been significant and material changes in the any representatives) at the same time, in the form circumstances of the parent, child or school, which of an evening presentation. For a small number of could warrant a new application. These changes appeals, the presentation will take place on the have to relate to the new application and not be morning of the appeal. When there is an evening connected with the result of the first application. presentation, notes of the meeting will be sent The Local Government Ombudsman can to all appellants before the second stage. At investigate complaints of maladministration. For the second stage, the appeals of the individual Academies, the Education Funding Agency can parents will be held in private as described earlier, investigate such complaints. and no decisions will be made until all appeals, received on time, for the school have been heard. The decision In non-infant class size cases, the panel will, firstly, decide whether the school or LA has demonstrated why it cannot admit any more children. If the panel is satisfied that the admission authority has proven this, it will go on to consider all the points you have made. The second part of the hearing is based on balancing the need of the individual child against the effect on the school of admitting another child. The clerk to the panel will write to you, usually within seven days of the hearing, telling you of the appeal panel decision and the reasons for it. The decision is binding on both parties. If your appeal is against refusal on infant class size the appeal panel can only uphold the appeal on the grounds shown on page 20. The clerk to the panel will write to you, usually within seven days of the hearing, telling you of the appeal panel’s decision and the reasons for it. The decision is binding on both parties.
Page 21
Special educational needs and Essex special schools
Essex County Council has additional will have the opportunity to express preferences
responsibilities for children assessed as having for your preferred schools you should do this
special educational needs. An assessment of as part of the discussions before the proposed
these needs may lead to a statement of special statement is issued. You should not return the
educational needs or Education, Health and Care Common Application Form in this booklet or make
Plan (EHCP) being issued. Most children with a an application using the online facility. If an
statement or EHCP are educated at their local application is received for a child with a statement
mainstream school, with additional support if of special educational needs a place will not be
appropriate. Some children who have a statement allocated as part of the co-ordinated admissions
or EHCP and have significant special educational process detailed on pages 17 and 18.
needs attend a special school or a mainstream
school with additional special provision. For SEN transport arrangements
further details about the statutory assessment Arrangements for free home to school transport
procedures or special education in Essex please can be found online at www.essex.gov.uk/
ring the Parent Partnership Helpline 01245 schooltransport.
436036.
In line with statutory duty Essex provides
The list opposite gives details of the special free home to school transport to the nearest
schools in Essex and an indication of the type of appropriate school with space if the pupil resides:
difficulty catered for by each school.
• 2 miles or more from the school for pupils up
A child is only placed in a special school if they are to the age of 8 (end of Year 3);
the subject of a statement of special educational • 3 or more miles from the school and is over the
needs or EHCP and the school is named in that age of 8 (Year 4 and above).
document. For most children a mainstream school
All routes are measured using the shortest
will be able to meet their needs.
available walking route.
Children with statements of special educational
If a child lives under the statutory distance criteria,
needs or EHCP that name a school are required to
transport cannot be provided unless there is clear
be admitted to that school.
evidence that the child’s special educational
If your child has, or is currently being assessed needs are such that the parent/carer cannot get
for, a statement of special educational needs or him/her to school.
EHCP you will have discussed the most suitable
The provision of an escort on the vehicle is not
school and the range of options available with the
automatic and is based on the child’s individual
Statutory Assessment Service (SAS). If you think
needs at the time of assessment.
your child may have special educational needs
you should first speak to the headteacher of your Where a school is or can be named in a child’s
child’s present school. statement or EHCP as it is the nearest appropriate
school but as a result of parental preference
Most special schools take pupils from a wide area
they choose an alternative school further away,
of the County.
transport will not usually be provided to the
Please note: alternative school. Parents will be required to
make their own arrangements to get their child to
If your child already has a statement of special and from school in this instance.
educational needs or EHCP they will be allocated a
primary school place by SAS as part of the process
for a child with a statement of special educational
needs starting at a primary school. Whilst youYou can also read
