Admissions

Should the number of applications for admission exceed the admission number the Directors/Governors will apply the following criteria (in the rank shown) to decide the order in which places will be allocated. This will also apply to waiting lists. The Local Authority will keep a waiting list on behalf of the academy for the normal-round of admissions, up until the end of the Autumn term.

Children with a Statement of Special Education Needs or an Educational, Health & Care Plan which names a particular school will be allocated places, after which places are
allocated according to an agreed set of criteria, in strict order of priority.

Priority 1 – Looked after children and children who were looked after in England, but ceased to be due to being adopted or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order

Priority 2 – Looked after children and children who were looked after outside of England, but ceased to be due to being adopted or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order

Priority 3 – Children living within the defined catchment area of the school;

Priority 4 – Sibling connection – Children who have an older sibling at the preferred school not only at the time of application but also when the younger child is due to start;

Priority 5 – Exceptional circumstances – Children with exceptional medical, social or compassionate grounds for admission and whose parents can show that entry to a particular school only is necessary for the wellbeing of their child. Parents are required to produce a medical certificate or other appropriate information preferably from an independent source. Applications on such grounds will not be considered by the Director of Children’s Wellbeing’s advisory panel unless this supporting information is attached to application forms received by 31st October 2021 (secondary schools) or 15th January 2022 (primary schools);

Priority 6 – Distance – Children who live nearest to the school by the shortest available walking route

The Early Years Foundation Stage starts at birth and continues until the end of the Reception year. This ensures a smooth transition from your child’s experiences at home, in pre-school and then as they start school.

Offering Early Years Provision at Pencombe CofE Primary, children from our Nursery transition smoothly to their Reception year. They feel secure in their surroundings and routines. Our Early Years team work closely with other teachers, from joint planning and moderation through to organised joint events such as Christmas, Sports Day, transition activities and joint teaching and learning sessions. 

We have established close links with the nurseries and pre-schools and meet with them to ensure that each child’s strengths and interests are shared. During the Summer Term we have several visit days where you and your child are invited in to school and spend time meeting staff and getting used to the new environment. We also offer a home visit.
We build on the information from nurseries and pre-schools and from the information that you give us to assess your child’s engagement and involvement across a range of activities. This information is collated in an ‘entry profile’ during the first few weeks of the term.

During a child’s Reception year we are building a picture of how they learn which will be used to plan for learning when they start on the National Curriculum in Year One. We identify the strengths and areas for development for each child. We want to ensure that each child will have a good level of development to take with them on their journey through school.

Prior to starting school we send out a booklet with advice on how to prepare/settle your child into school.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances we ask all reception children to attend school full time from the start of term.

We will be taking lots of photographs of the children and our photographs make the learning visible ~ we can show how children are learning from first hand experiences. At the end of Reception you will receive your child’s Learning Journey.

We communicate with parents electronically via several electronic platforms, notably text, email and Seesaw.

We welcome parents considering transferring their child during the school year to contact the school to arrange a visit and tour of the school.

We also encourage children considering an in-year move to attend Pencombe for a taster session. Prior to any move, parents will receive an admissions pack which needs to be completed prior to the child enrolling at the school. The pack includes forms relating to admissions, health and well being, dietary requirements, permissions and consent forms.