Your guide to applying for a Primary school - kent.gov.uk

1 Your guide to applying for a Primary school Reception year for children born in Kent 2020. between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. Year 3 (Junior school ). for children born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013. Apply online the simple fast and secure way Admission to Primary school in Kent 2020. Contacts The Fair Access Co-ordinated Admissions Office is based at: Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ. The telephone number for Kent County Council's Contact Centre: 03000 412121, and they can put you through to the Primary Admissions team or the transport Team. You can e-mail the Admissions Team at: Please note: Reception and Junior Common Application Forms will not normally be accepted if faxed to Kent County Council. Admission for Children with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

2 The admissions arrangements for children with Education, Health and Care Plans are the responsibility of Kent County Council. For advice on the arrangements to admit your child into school , you should contact your local SEN Officer through your local Additional Educational Needs and Resources offices which are listed below: East Kent (Canterbury, Thanet, Swale). East Kent SEN Team, Brook House, Reeves Way, John Wilson Business Park, Chestfield, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3SS. Telephone: 03000 421160 Email: South Kent (Ashford, Dover, Shepway). South Kent SEN Team, Kroner House, Eurogate Business Park, Ashford, Kent TN24 8XU. Telephone: 03000 420889 Email: North Kent (Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks). North Kent SEN Team, Joynes House, 1 4 New Road, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0AT. Telephone: 03000 419345 Email: West Kent (Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling).

3 West Kent SEN Team, Worrall House, 30 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4AE. Telephone: 03000 420997 Email: 2. Admission to Primary school in Kent 2020. Online admissions Apply online for a school place Just go to Kent Online Admissions A simple, fast, convenient process which opens at 9am on 5 November 2019 and closes at midnight on 15 January 2020. Only one application per pupil will be accepted. If you apply online, do not complete a paper application as well. Keep your log on details safe and use your registered email address for all communication with the team. 3. Admission to Primary school in Kent 2020. 4. Admission to Primary school in Kent 2020. If you go to you will see the following: Primary school places You must apply for a Primary school place if: l your child is due to start Primary or Infant school (Reception Year).

4 L your child is at Infant school (Year 2) and is due to start Junior school (Year 3). l your child is at Primary school (Year 2) and you want your child to move to Junior school at the start of Year 3. I f your child is at Infant school (Year 2) and you want to apply for a Year 3 place at a Primary school (rather than a Junior school ) you must apply for an in year admission. What to do Choose a Apply Processing Offer day Accept or school decline It's important to find out A simple, fast, Email confirmation On offer day (Thursday You must accept or more about schools you convenient process reassures you that your 16 April 2020) an email decline the school place are interested in before which opens at 9am on application has been will be sent to you after you've been offered by you decide to name them 5 November 2019 and received.

5 4pm, telling you which Wednesday 6 May 2020. on your application form. closes at midnight on school you have been 15 January 2020. You can log back on offered. If it has not been You can name up to 3 at any time to view possible to offer your child schools. You can apply at any the information you a place at one of your time of day. entered, however you preferred schools, you will not be able to have the right to make amendments join the school 's waiting after 15 January 2020. list and/or make an appeal. If you wish to make a change please email l Online support available telephone 03000 412121 and ask for the Online Admissions Team or email (we will reply during office hours). l You can log on to view your school offer after 5pm on 16 April 2020 but you will need your username & password to access information.

6 L You can also apply by post. Pick up an application form by contacting Kent County Council's Contact Centre on 03000 412121, from schools or by emailing Once completed send to: The Fair Access Co-ordinated Admissions Team, Room , Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ. 5. Admission to Primary school in Kent 2020. Everything you need to know 1. Introduction 8. 2. What is Primary education? 8. 3. When can my child start school ? 8. 4. Will starting school affect my child's entitlement to free Early Years education? 8. 5. I want to educate my child at home 8. 6. Who is responsible for admission arrangements to schools? 8. 7. How many school places are available? 9. 8. What are my chances of getting a place at the school I want? 9. 9. What happened for admissions in September 2018?

7 10. 10. To apply for your child to start at an Infant or Primary school in Reception 10. 11. To apply for your child to start at a Junior school in Year 3 11. 12. I am applying for an Infant school . What happens when my child is due to transfer to Junior school ? 13. 13. What if I miss the closing date for applications? 13. 14. Help for children with Additional/Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan 14. 15. applying for a Place at a Free school 15. 16. How will places be offered? 15. 17. What do these criteria mean? 17. 18. What address should I use on my application? 19. 19. I live in Kent. Can I apply for a school outside Kent? 21. 20. I live outside Kent. Can my child be considered for a Kent school ? 21. 21. When will I hear if my child has been offered a place? 21.

8 22. Can I defer my child's entry into school and if so, for how long? 21. 23. Why wouldn't my child get a place? 22. 24. When will I hear if my child has been offered a place from the waiting list? 22. 6. Admission to Primary school in Kent 2020. 25. Appeals 23. 26. In Year Admissions 24. 27. Will I get help with transport to school ? 24. 28. Other benefits 26. 29. Can charges be made for school Activities? 26. 30. Your guide to Data Protection 26. 31. If Your Child has a Disability 27. 32. Additional Information 28. Quick Reference 30. Junior schools in Kent 31. The Schools 32. Glossary 123. 7. Admission to Primary school in Kent 2020. 1.. Introduction If your child starts school on a part time basis and you would like to know if they will be entitled to receive/continue to This book has been produced to help you apply for a place for receive any free entitlement for the remainder of the day, you your child in a Primary school .

9 If you wish to know more about a should contact the Kent Children s Information Services on particular school , you can visit the school 's website, contact the 03000 41 23 23 or email or visit the school directly for a prospectus or make an appointment to visit. website for further information. If you have any general questions about admissions that have not been answered in this booklet, please contact the Kent 5. I want to educate my child at home County Council Contact Centre on 03000 412121 and ask to If you wish to educate your child at home and the child has speak to a member of the Primary Admissions team. never attended school , you do not have to inform Kent County Council, however it is good practice to do so. 2. What is Primary Education? If your child is attending school then you must put it in writing Primary Education covers the age range 4 to 11 and includes to the school that you wish to educate your child at home.

10 The following types of school : the school have a statutory duty to inform Kent County Primary schools admit children aged from 4 to 11 years. Council of your decision. Following receipt of your intention The year groups are from Reception Year to Year 6. to home educate, a Support & Advice Officer from the Access to Education team will contact you to discuss the process and Infant schools admit children aged from 4 to 6 years. arrange a visit. The year groups are from Reception Year to Year 2. As Infant schools do not admit children for Year 3 and above, parents The team can be contacted on of children in Infant schools will need to apply for a Year 3. , further information is available at place at either a Junior or Primary school when their child homeeducation reaches Year 2 See section 12 for more details.