Admissions

Admissions Policy for 2024/25

• Download the Admissions Policy for 2024/25 here
• Download the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) Reception Intake September 2024 here.  This form should be returned to the school, at the same time as you complete the Hertfordshire application form online.

Admissions Policy for 2023/24

• Download the Admissions Policy for 2023/24 here
• Download the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) Reception Intake September 2023 here.  This form should be returned to the school, at the same time as you complete the Hertfordshire application form online.

In-Year Admissions and Appeals

• Download the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) Other Year Admissions Form for In-Year Admissions here
• For a copy of the Appeals Timetable click here and for further information about the Hertfordshire Appeals process click here 

The governors of Little Gaddesden Church of England Primary School will admit 15 children, whose birthdays fall between 1st September 2019 and 31st August 2020 inclusive, into the Reception class, from the beginning of the Autumn Term 2024.

As far as possible, the school will ensure that pupils with disabilities have access to the same opportunities as other pupils. The school does not have any specific units or facilities for pupils with particular special needs, and there are no specific facilities for pupils with physical disabilities. Two classrooms are located upstairs; two downstairs classrooms may be entered without steps; one downstairs classroom has a single step. There is level access at the main school entrances.

The governing body is required to abide by the maximum limits for classes with children from Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 (i.e. no more than 30 pupils per class).

Children with statements of special educational needs or an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan naming the school are not subject to the  oversubscription criteria. The school will admit all children whose statements or EHC name the school.

The school co-operates with the Hertfordshire Fair Access Protocol for children who are hard to place.  These children will be given priority over children on the waiting list and may be admitted even if the school is full.

Criteria

If there is a greater demand for admission than there are places available, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out below:-

1) ‘Looked-after’ children, and children who were previously ‘looked after’ but immediately thereafter became subject to an adoption, child arrangement or special guardianship order. This includes previously ‘looked after’ children who appear (to the admissions authority) to have been in state care outside England and who ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.

The Children’s Act 1989 defines a child who is ‘looked after’ as a child or young person who is accommodated by the local authority (Section 20), or a child or young person who is the subject of  a full care order (Section 31) or interim care order (Section 38).   An ‘adoption order’ is an order under  Section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act  2002.  A ‘child arrangement order’ is an order setting out the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live, under Section 14 of the Children and Families Act 2014.  Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be the child’s special guardian (or special  guardians).

2) Children resident in the Parish of Little Gaddesden and adjoining areas outlined on the accompanying map, with priority given to children whose home address is closest to the school, measured in accordance with Hertfordshire County Council’s measurement system (as described below).  If this category is oversubscribed priority will be given as follows:

a) children with a sibling in the school at the time of admission;
b) geographic proximity, measured in accordance with Hertfordshire County Council’s measurement system, with priority given to children whose home address is closest to the school.

3) Children with a sibling in the school at the time of admission.

4) Children not resident within the Parish of Little Gaddesden or adjoining areas outlined on the accompanying map, but whose parent(s)/guardian(s) have attended services in Little Gaddesden Parish Church at least once a month during the two years prior to their application being made. Priority will be given to children whose home address is closest to the school.  Applicants in this category should also complete the Supplementary Information Form, which should be countersigned by the parish priest to verify the required level of attendance.

In the event that, during the period specified for attendance at worship, the church has been closed for public worship and has not provided alternative premises for that worship, the requirements of these arrangements in relation to attendance will only apply to the period when the church or alternative premises have been available for public worship.

5) Any other children.

Hertfordshire County Council Measurement System

A ‘straight line’ measurement system is used in all home to school distance measurements.  Distances are measured using a computerised mapping system to two decimal places.  The measurement is taken from the AddressBase Premium address point of your child’s house to the address point of the school.  AddressBase Premium date is a nationally recognised method of identifying the location of schools and individual residences.

Tie-Break

If there are two identical addresses of separate applicants, the tie break will be random.  Every child entered onto the Hertfordshire County Council’s admissions database has an individual random number assigned, between 1 and 1,000,000, against each preference school.  Where there is a need for a final tie break, the random number is used to allocate the place, with the lowest number given priority.

Twins & Multiple Births

Where the last available place is offered to a twin or multiple birth, then the other twin or siblings(s) will be offered places as exceptions to the infant class size rule.

Home Address

The address provided must be the child’s current permanent at the time of application.  ‘At the time of application’ means the closing date for applications.  ‘Permanent’ means that the child has lived at that address for at least a year. Where a family has not lived at an address for a year, at the time of application, they must be able to demonstrate that they own the property or have a tenancy agreement for a minimum of 12 months. If, because of the nature of the agreement, it is not possible to provide a 12 month tenancy agreement, alternative proof of address will be requested and verified as necessary with Hertfordshire County Council’s Shared Anti-Fraud Service. The child must be resident in the property at the time of application. 

It is for the governing body (as the admissions authority) to determine the address to be used for admission purposes.

The application can only be processed using one address.  If a child lives at more than one address (for example, due to a separation), the address used will be the one which the child lives at for the majority of the time.  If the child lives at two addresses equally, parents/carers should make a single joint application naming one address. 

If a child’s permanent residence is disputed, parents/carers should provide court documentation to evidence the address that should be used for admission allocation purposes.  If two applications are received, with different addresses and/or different preferences, neither will be processed until the address issue is reconciled.

Applications made as part of the main Reception admissions round and in-year admissions are processed by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) on behalf of the governing body in accordance with HCC’s published co-ordination admission schemes.

If HCC receives two different applications for the same child from the same address (eg, containing different preferences), parents/carers will be invited to submit a joint application or to provide court documentation to evidence the preferences that should be used for the admission process. Until the preference issue is reconciled neither application will be processed.

For the main Reception admission round, if the initial differing applications (one or both) were received by HCC ‘on-time’, an amended joint application will also be considered ‘on-time’ if received before 1st February 2024 (the late deadline). If the amended joint application is received after 1st February 2024, it will be treated as ‘late’.

Siblings

‘Sibling’ refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, child of the parent/carer or partner, children ‘looked after’ or previously ‘looked after’.  This does not include children temporarily living in the same house (for example, a ‘looked after’ child in a short term or bridging placement).  In every case, the sibling must be living permanently in the same family home as part of the family household, at least from Monday to Friday.  The sibling must be in the school at the time of the application and be likely to remain in the school at the proposed date of admission.

Deferred Admission and Summer-born Children

The school provides for the admission of all successful applicants who have reached their fourth birthday by the end of August 2024. Parents offered a place may defer the date of their child’s admission until later in the year, but not beyond the point at which the child reaches compulsory school age, and not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year for which it was made. Children offered places in Reception have a right to part-time schooling until they reach compulsory school age.

Where parents of a ‘summer-born’ child (born April 1 – August 31) do not wish their child to start school until the autumn term after their fifth birthday, they must normally make an in-year application for a place in Year 1.  If parents do not take up the offered place before the end of the academic year of entry, then they would have to re-apply for a place in Year 1. Parents considering this course of action are encouraged to discuss the matter with the school before reaching a final decision.

However, a parent of a summer-born child who wishes their child to start school in the autumn term following their fifth birthday and to be educated ‘out of year group’ (i.e. in the Reception Year rather than Year 1) should contact the school to discuss their situation at the earliest possible opportunity.

All such parents should apply for a Reception place in their child’s normal age group at the usual time and submit a request in writing to the Governors for admission out of the normal age group at the same time. Each case will be judged on its individual merits and in the best interests of the child, taking account of the views of the headteacher.

The governors will respond to the request prior to an offer of a Reception place being made. If the request is agreed to the application can be withdrawn for that year before a place is offered. If the request is refused but the child is offered a place at the school in their normal age group, parents may decide whether or not to accept the offer of that place, or refuse it and make an in-year application for admission into Year 1 for the September following the child’s fifth birthday.

Where a parent’s request for out of year group education for their summer-born child has been agreed, they must make a new application for a Reception place at the school as part of the main admissions round the following year. Parents do not have the right of appeal against a decision not to place the child in a year group outside their normal age group.

Please note that these arrangements do not apply to any Nursery intake: parents of Nursery children must reapply for a place in Reception.  Nursery attendance does not guarantee a place in Reception.

Older Children and In-Year Applications

Applications to admit older children (including those out of year group) may be made to the school at any time.  The school is part of Hertfordshire County Council’s co-ordinated system for In-Year applications.  Online applications should be made at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/inyear.  In-Year applications will be considered in accordance with the oversubscription criteria outlined in this document.  HCC will write to you with the outcome of your application and, if you have been unsuccessful, will include registration details to enable you to log in and appeal online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/schoolappeals. Parents considering an appeal are encouraged to discuss this with the school.

Out of Year Group Applications

The school’s policy is that children should be educated in their normal age group, with the curriculum differentiated as necessary to meet their individual needs. If, however, parents believe that their child should be educated in a different age group, they may make a written request to the governors. Any application must be accompanied by professional evidence that clearly demonstrates why the child must be placed outside their normal age group. The governors will consider each case on an individual basis and in the best interests of the child, taking into account the views of the headteacher. There is no right of appeal where a child is offered a place at the school but not in the parents’ preferred age group.

Admissions Procedure for the Reception class

• Parents/carers must complete the Local Authority Common Application Form for their home area.  The online address is www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions (for Hertfordshire residents).
• The school’s Supplementary Information Form should also be completed by those whose applications come under Category 4 of the admissions criteria.
• Applications must be received by January 15, 2024.
• The Governors will determine the allocation of places for the 2024/25 school year, in accordance with the Admissions Policy.  Allocations will be emailed or posted to parents on April 16^th 2024.  Parents must respond to offers by April 28^th 2024.  Those who applied online should respond online; others should return the response form direct to the Admissions and Transport Team at County Hall.
• Appeals: Parents/carers who have not been allocated a place for their child in the Reception class have the right of appeal to an independent panel.  Parents who applied online should log into their online application and click on the link register an appeal.  Out-of-county residents and paper applicants should contact the Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 4043 to request their registration details and log into www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/schoolappeals, clicking on the link ‘log into the appeals ‘system’.  Parents considering an appeal are encouraged to discuss this with the school.
• Waiting List: After places have been offered, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) will maintain a continuing interest (waiting) list on behalf of the governors. A child’s position on a continuing interest list can change as other children join or leave it. HCC will contact parents/carers if a vacancy becomes available and it can be offered to a child. Continuing interest lists will be maintained for every year group until the summer term (date to be specified and confirmed to parents at the time of application). To remain on the continuing interest (waiting) list after this time, parents must confirm they are still interested in a place by completing an in-year application form.