New Year R in September

Home Key Information Admissions New Year R in September

Choosing your child’s school is one of the single biggest decisions you will make and we recognise the enormity of this. We also recognise that schools seem to have a different language sometimes and many rules and processes around their systems, including admission!

We would advise parents of children due to start next September to start looking at schools in October or November of the year before their child starts at school. It’s likely that you will want to look at many and consider whether the school ‘feels’ right for you and your family as well as if it has wrap around care, class sizes, good quality staff and much more.

We only ever admit 15 Year R children each year and they will join Robins class in the September. Robins are taught by Miss Montador.

There are a few things you need to know:

You must apply for a school place by January 15th in the academic year before your child starts school eg. if your child is due to start school in September 2025, you should apply by January 15th 2025.
You can have 3 choices of school; put your favourite first even if it’s not your catchment school
You won’t find out which school has been allocated to your child until mid-April. We know that this feels like a waiting game but there is lots happening in the background to ensure places are allocated fairly.
If you are not happy with your choice, you can appeal. Advice on how to do this can be found at Hampshire County Council’s admissions website (click here) or in our policy (click here)

Transition

The transition process starts early for your child. This ‘3-step Settle in Smannell’ programme is bespoke to our school and helps get your child off to a flying start.

Step 1 ~ Home visit

We meet with you in late May/early June for a home visit so that we can get to know both you and your child in the comfort of your own home. Miss Montador, who will be your child’s class teacher plus Mrs McManus, our new headteacher from September 2024 will come to meet with you and answer any questions you may have on a personal level.

Step 2~ Pre-School/nursery visit

We visit your child’s pre-school or nursery, if they attend one. This enables us to speak with their key worker and see them in a different setting. We’ll let you know when we’re going to visit them and be guided by you on the adults we should speak to in order to ensure we get a ‘whole’ picture of your child in their safe setting.

Step 3 ~ In-school settle and stay sessions

We then invite you into school for 4 stay and play sessions late in July so that your child can get familiar with their new surroundings and hopefully create some exciting memories of what’s to come. Whilst your child is with their teacher in class, the school leadership team, admin staff, catering team and FOSS PTA will meet with you to ensure you too have all of the information you need ready for September.