Information for parents booklet 2012-2013 - Worcestershire County ...

Part CSection 3Admissions to First/Primary Schools3.1 All admission authorities are required to review their arrangements every year.Therefore, the information given in this booklet applies only to admissions inthe school year 2012 - 2013 and may change in future years.Please be aware:• Attendance at a particular nursery/nursery class or foundation class gives no guarantee that the childwill gain a place at the school where the nursery/nursery class/foundation class is located. Parents/carersmust apply separately for their child to go to any first/primary school.• It is the parent's/carer's duty to ensure that they have obtained all the necessary information and thecorrect form on which to apply for a first/primary school place.3.2 At what age can your child start school?The law requires all children to start full-time education by the beginning of the term following their fifthbirthday. Children who have reached their fourth birthday are entitled to attend full-time in a reception classfrom the September after their fourth birthday.The Reception academic year group from 1st September 2012 – 31st August 2013 is for children who were bornbetween 01/09/2007 – 31/8/2008.Parents must apply for a school place as explained in 3.6 below by the closing date 15th January 2012 foradmissions in the school year 1st September 2012 to 31st August 2013.Parents can request that their child attends part-time until the child reaches compulsory school age. Manyschools provide for children to attend part-time at first. Any period of part-time attendance could varyaccording to the circumstances at each school and perhaps also according to the age of the child. You will needto check with the school you would like your child to attend, to see what their induction arrangements are.A small number of pupils are educated at home through arrangements made by their parents/carers. The LocalAuthority verifies the quality of the provision on a regular basis. Information on elective home education is madeavailable through the Parent Partnership Service by telephoning: 01905 7279403.3 Can I keep my child out of school until s/he is 5?Parents may request that their child's entry to a reception class be deferred until later in the same receptionacademic year group. Parents wishing to consider this should discuss the situation with the Headteacher at theschool. Parents must apply for a school place in the normal way at the usual time. By law children must startschool at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday.Children with a date of birth in the summer term wishing to start school in the September after their fifthbirthday would start in Year 1 and consequently miss the entire reception year. To apply for a place in Year 1 andnot reception please refer to Section 3.13. Please be aware that there may not be a vacancy in Year 1 at that time.Apply online at: www.worcestershire.gov.uk 35