Admissions

POLICY AND NUMBERS
There is a separate admission procedure for children entering the Nursery Class and the Reception Class.

Children are admitted on a part-time (mornings-only) basis to the Nursery Class at the start of the school year (September) in which they reach their fourth birthday. They are admitted full-time to the Reception Class at the start of the year in which they reach their fifth birthday, although there is the option of attending part-time until the child is five years old. The number of admissions for each year is 27 (26 for the Nursery).

Applications to the Nursery should be made using the Pippins application form and those for the main school using the Common Application Form. Admission dates will usually be in line with those set by Slough LEA.

Parents must also submit proof of address in the form of a Council Tax or utility bill. The child’s birth certificate must be seen by the school prior to admission, unless we have already recorded that it has been seen in the Nursery.

OVER-SUBSCRIPTION
Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied, in the order set out below, to decide which children to admit:

• Where the child is in the care of the local authority.
• Where the child has a statement of special educational needs specifying Pippins School or is looked after in the care of the local authority
• Where the child will have a brother or sister attending the school at the time of admission; in the case of two or more children being on our waiting list and where both already have brothers or sisters within the school, the place shall go to the child who lives geographically closer to the school by walking distance.
• Where the child has attended Pippins Nursery.
• Where there are medical grounds (supported by a doctor’s certificate) for admitting the child.
• The proximity of the child’s home to the school measured by the shortest, safe walking distance, with those living nearer the school being accorded the higher priority.

The criteria for admission to other year groups in the school are the same as that for Reception Class.
There is no guarantee that a child who has a place in the Nursery Class will also be allocated a place in the Reception Class.

APPEALS
Parents have the right to appeal if we are unable to offer a place to their child. An independent panel will be set up no more than once a term to consider any appeal against non-admission. A copy of the procedure is available in the school information file in the reception area. Parents who have appealed unsuccessfully may reapply for a place at the school in a later academic year. There is no right of appeal for Nursery Class as this stage is non-statutory.

Parents who have appealed unsuccessfully may not seek to reapply in the same academic year unless there are significant and material changes in their circumstances, or those of the child or school relevant to a further application.