Newdigate C of E Endowed Infant School

The process of applying to a school can be a daunting one, particularly for parents who haven't done it before, but we endeavour to make it as simple as possible.

Open Morning
We hold an open morning in October each year, the date of which will be publicised on the website, in Bob's shop and on other local noticeboards. This is a chance to meet with the Headteacher, governors and members of the PTA, but visits are warmly welcomed from families at other times by arrangement via the school office.

Application Forms
As a Voluntary Aided school we are our own admissions authority which means that admissions are based on criteria in a policy agreed by the Governors. To enable us to apply these criteria it is necessary to complete the schools own admission form. Newdigate Admissions Form We are part of the Surrey Co-Ordinated Scheme of Admissions which means that much of the administration to do with admissions is dealt with by the local authority and in accordance with the law, admissions are based on an equal preference system. A Surrey Schools Admissions form must be completed and Surrey encourage this to be done online wherever possible. Surrey Admissions Website Admissions forms generally have to be returned by a closing date towards the end of October and details of the current years dates can be found on the Surrey Admissions website.

Induction Process
A letter informing parents of allocation of a place will be sent by Surrey County Council in the last week of February. Once the place has been accepted the induction process will commence. Parents are invited to a welcome meeting at which various aspects of school life will be explained, information handed out and school specific items of uniform will be available for purchase. The children will be invited to meet their new teacher and classmates and then be invited for a number of story sessions during the second half of the summer term. Children at Newdigate Pre-School also have the opportunity to join us for school lunch on a number of occasions during this term. Home visits can be arranged if required.

Transfer at the end of Year 2
At the end of Year 2 children transfer to a number of local junior schools. In recent years these have included The Weald, Sandcross, Brockham and several independent schools. Staff from the new schools visit children at Newdigate and the children attend induction days at their new schools during the summer term. A detailed handover is made of records relating to the children's progress whilst at Newdigate.

Admissions Policy for entry in September 2010

This Policy applies to School Admissions for September 2010

Admissions: Children are admitted to the Reception Year in the September of the academic year in which they will become five years old. In line with Government legislation classes do not exceed thirty Children whose birthdays fall between January and August have the opportunity of part-time attendance for one or two terms. Reception Year entry can de deferred and a place reserved later in that school year, but a place will not be held for the following year.

The ethos of the school is Christian with a strong focus on the local community. We ask all parents applying for a place here to respect this ethos and its importance to the school community. This does not affect the right of parents who are not of the faith of this school, or who do not live locally to apply for and be considered for a place here.

Admission numbers: The published admissions number (PAN) is 35.
As a V.A. school the school is its own Admission authority and Governors have powers to exceed the PAN provided they retain the provision to accept the full PAN of 35 in subsequent years and not exceed a class size of 30.

Surrey County Council Co-ordinated Admission Scheme: This policy is subject to the ‘Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for Primary Schools within Surrey in 2006/7’ under which the school will adopt an equal preference system.

Over Subscription: If the number of applicants for admission into the school exceeds the agreed admission number for any year, the governors will bring into effect this admissions policy. Places will be allocated according to the following criteria in order of priority. The necessary information to inform on these criteria will be collected from the supplementary application form.

1.Looked after children in the care of the local authority
2.Statemented/Medical/Social.. (Note 1)
3.Siblings of older children who will still be in attendance at the school on the date of admission. (Note 2)
4.Children whose parents are regular worshippers at St. Peter’s Church, Newdigate and whose home address is within the Parish of Newdigate (to include Henfold Lane) (Notes 3, 4, 5, 6)
5.Children who attended Newdigate Pre-school and whose home address is within the Parish of Newdigate (to include Henfold Lane). (Notes 5, 6)
6.Children whose home address is within the Parish of Newdigate (to include Henfold Lane). (Notes 5, 6)
7.Children whose parents are regular worshippers at St. Peter’s Church, Newdigate and whose home address is outside the Parish of Newdigate (Notes 3, 4)
8.Children who attended Newdigate Pre-School and whose home address is outside the Parish of Newdigate.
9.Children with a parent working within the Parish of Newdigate (Note 3)
10.Children whose home address is outside the Parish of Newdigate.

Note 1: In accordance with the DfES Code of Practice precedence will be given to children who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs, a Medical condition which specifies attendance at Newdigate School is essential, and Children in Care. Where admission is sought upon the grounds of a medical condition this submission must be made at the time of application and be accompanied by a certification to this effect by the appropriate medical consultant. Note a letter from a G.P. is not suitable. The Governors reserve the right to the condition being assessed by the Surrey LA medical specialist before making any decision. This information must be presented at the timeo f application. Similarly if admission is sought on the on social grounds the application must be accompanied by a letter from the appropriate professional (e.g. social worker)

Note 2: A sibling is a brother or sister (that is, another child of the same parents, whether living at the same address or not), or a half brother or sister or a step brother or sister, living at the same address, or foster children living at the same address.

Note 3: A parent is the legal guardian of a child with whom the child lives. That is biological parent, adoptive parent, person appointed guardian by the courts, or person legally fostering a child.

Note 4: For families who apply on the basis of regular worship (attendance at 12 separate church services throughout the year) proof of this will be required from an official of St. Peter’s Church. If a family moves into the area, confirmation will be required from their previous local church.

Note 5: Home address is the address at which the child is resident for the majority of the time. A parish map may be provided to confirm home address is within the parish.

Note 6: In the event of over subscription at any level the shortest distance from the pupil’s home to the school front main gate will be the deciding factor according to the method used by Surrey LA. Distance confirmation can be verified by contacting the LA Admissions Department (Tel: 01483 517684) Geographical Information System (Data Map) or from the website http://findaschool.surreycc.gov.uk/

Multiple births: The school policy is not to split multiple birth applicants. Where twins are next in priority for admission but there is only one place available the school will hold open one place until a further vacancy arises allowing both children admission. Where triplets or higher order multiple births are next in priority places will not be held open indefinitely to the detriment of other applicants on the waiting list.

Reconsidering Applications: Only one application can be made each academic year. Parents who are unsuccessful one year are free to re-apply in subsequent years.

Appeal: Parents have the right of appeal by law, to an independent appeals panel should the Governors refuse their child a place at the school.

Casual Applications: These will be considered within the normal admission criteria and co-ordinated by the LA. No admissions can be considered outside the agreed admission policy as detailed in this document.

Late Applications: These will be considered within the normal admission criteria once all the applications received by the admission closing date have been considered.

Waiting List: The waiting list is maintained in the same order as the over-subscription criteria, and does not depend on the date a child was placed on it. This waiting list will be continuously maintained until the child is either removed from the list or given a place at the school.

Contact Details for further information:

Ms Linda Trueman (Head teacher)
Newdigate Infants School: 01306 631353.
Fax: 01306 631821
E-mail:info@newdigate.surrey.sch.uk
www.newdigate.surrey.sch.uk

Surrey LA: 08456 009009