Full information about the procedures for applying for a place for your child at an Essex school can be found in the Primary Education in Essex booklet which is available from local schools from the Autumn term.  This includes information about all the local schools, how to make an application and how to appeal if you are not successful.

In the past, most parents applied directly to primary schools for places but from September 2006 onwards a new system was introduced. Now, all parents who wish to get a primary or junior school place in Essex must apply to Essex County Council. The only way you can apply for a primary or junior school place at an Essex school for your child is by completing the Common Application Form (CAF) and sending it to Essex County Council by the closing date. If your child currently attends an infant school you will have to make an application to transfer to the partner junior school or an alternative school.

Common Application Forms will be sent directly to parents together with information about the schools in their area.  Applications can also be made online at www.essexcc.gov.uk/admissions.   Parents may apply for up to three schools in preference order. The application form must be returned to the Local Authority by 1st December 2009.  Every eligible Essex resident, as far as practicable, will be offered a single Essex school place on 1 April 2010.

This statement is our admissions policy and supersedes any previous statements issued.

This statement has been drafted in consultation with our Local Education Authority.

LEA Policy

Children are legally entitled to a place in school at the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday.  The LEA has adopted a general policy however whereby children can be admitted at the start of the term during which they become five, if their parents so wish, and at this age they are known as ‘rising five’.

The Governing Body of Holt Farm Infant School has been able to improve the provision in order to meet the Local Authority’s criteria and has received permission to admit children younger than rising-five on the following basis:

• Spring & Summer Term rising-fives to be admitted part-time from the September before their fifth birthday.

Admission Procedure

The current admissions policy for Holt Farm Infant School is as follows:

Places will be allocated up to the published admission number of 90 for each year group.

In the event of over subscription applicants to the school will be determined using the following criteria:

1. Children living in the catchment area with a sibling attending the Infant School at the time of application and admission
2. Children living in the catchment area with a sibling attending the Junior School at the time of admission
3. Children living in the catchment area
4. Children living outside the catchment area with a sibling attending the Infant School at the time of application and admission
5. Children living outside the catchment area with a sibling attending the Junior School at the time of admission
6. The straight line distance from home to school

In criteria 1-5 the straight-line distance between home and school will be used to differentiate between applications

• If your child was born between 1st. September and 31st December he/she will start school full-time at the beginning of the Autumn Term (the term during which they have their 5th birthday).
• If your child was born between 1st January and 30thApril he/she will be offered a part-time place in school at the beginning of the Autumn Term and become full time after the October half-term.
• If your child was born between 1st May and 31st August he/she will be offered a part-time place in school at the beginning of the Autumn Term and become full time from January.