1. Applying for a place at Primary School

2. Compulsory School Age
A child is of compulsory school age on the 1st January, 1st April or 1st September following their 5th birthday.
5 by 31 December – start school in January
5 by 31 March – start school in April (after Easter)
5 by 31 August – start school in September BUT school places not held into next academic year
If your child will be 4 by 31 August 2019, you must apply for a school place.

3. Preferences not Choices
History of rising numbers of school age children – bulge classes, new classes, higher planned admission numbers (PANs)
New primary academy in south Newbury opening September 2019
Be realistic – look at last year’s admissions
Think about siblings

4. Catchment Areas Catchment areas in West Berkshire
Always apply to your catchment school
If you don’t, you may be allocated a school a long way from home (eg a village school or in Thatcham)
You may need to supply extra information to church schools
performance.service.gov.uk/

5. Separated Parents
Use the home where the child lives most of the time as the home address
Where parenting is equally split, you can choose either of the addresses
Only one application per child is permitted

6. Application Deadlines
You can apply online now
15 January is the final date for changes or applications

7. Moving House You cannot use a future address on your application
If you move by 31 January, your new address will be used for school place allocation
If you more after 31 January, your old address will be used
Applications for children who have moved after 31 January will be re-assessed after 17 April

8. What happens next?
You will receive an or letter on 16 April 2019
You need to accept the school place you have been offered by 1 May
The school will contact you directly to let you know about transition arrangements for your child
Visit dates will happen during the summer term

9. If you are not happy …
DO NOT turn down the school place you have offered – the Local Authority has no obligation to find another school place for you
School admissions are very helpful and will let you know where there are spaces
Your child will be put on the waiting lists of schools that were higher in your list of preferences
Movement on lists between April and September
Waiting lists remain for the whole academic year