Admissions

Full day attendance at Netherfield Infant School and Nursery usually starts before the child is 5. However parents may defer taking up the school place until the term after the child is 5 (statutory school age) if they wish. Parents that want to do this need to inform the head teacher so that we can ensure that a place is reserved in school for their child.

In the event of over-subscription, the following criteria will be applied, in priority order, to determine which applications will be granted:

• Children who live in the catchment area and who, at the time of admission, will have a brother or sister attending the school, or the linked junior/primary school
• Other children who live in the catchment area.
• Children who live outside the catchment area and who, at the time of admission, will have a brother or sister attending the school, or the linked junior/primary school.
• Other children who live outside the catchment area.

In the event of over-subscription within any criterion, preference will normally be given to children who live nearest to the school as the crow flies. Distances are measured from the entrance to the child’s home to the nearest recognised main entrance of the school building. The exception to this is that all children who fall into criterion 1 or 2, by the closing date for application, will be guaranteed a place at the school providing the school is listed as the first preference and the application is received by the closing date for the normal year of entry to the school.

Special Circumstances
Consideration will be given to applicants who can establish particular medical, Special Educational Needs or social grounds relating to their child. Supporting written evidence from a doctor, social worker or other relevant professional must be provided at the time of application. The definition of Special Educational Needs relates to a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for the child. Special consideration will be given to children whose mobility support needs require that they access the specialist accommodation provided by a school in a designated "through route" family of schools. Each case will be determined on its merits.

Special circumstances may take precedence over any of the numbered criteria above. The allocation of any such places will be determined by the Local Education Officer, in consultation with the Head Teacher.

Admissions to year groups other than the intake year

Applications for admission to other year groups will normally be considered in relation to the published admission limit which applied when the year group was first admitted to the school, although infant class size restrictions will also need to be considered. If places are available within the year group, applications will be considered in accordance with the above admission criteria. If places are available, the child will normally be admitted to the school.