When Should I Begin Preparing?

It makes sense to start looking at options at least a year before the application deadline (usually mid-January of the year in which your child will start school). This is because it takes time to research all the local schools and if you find that none of them are acceptable, you might even choose to move home. This can take several months, so it’s not an easy option.

When Will my Child be Eligible to Start School?

If your child was born between 1st September 2014 and 31st August 2015, s/he will be eligible to start school from 1st September 2019. If s/he was born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016, s/he will be eligible to start school from 1st September 2020.

How Do I Research Local Schools?

It’s important to research local schools very thoroughly – but where to start?

Firstly, you can find out the catchment areas of local schools by visiting your local authority website. If you live in Trafford, you can find this information here.

Friends whose children attend local schools are a great source of information, but you would be wise to do your own research over and above word-of-mouth recommendations. This is particularly the case if your child has any Special Educational Needs and/ or Disability (SEND). If you live in Trafford, you will find information about all the local primary schools in this information booklet from Trafford Council. In the booklet you will find links to each school’s website, which can be very informative.

You may also wish to read the Ofsted reports of schools on your shortlist. These will provide an assessment of the school’s academic levels as well as pastoral care and standards of behaviour. They will also evaluate standards of teaching and leadership. Don’t be put off if a school has been labelled as ‘needing improvement’ by Ofsted. When this happens, schools work extremely hard to ensure they address any problems flagged up by their inspection. You may also wish to look at Parent View – an Ofsted-run website which offers opinions on individual schools from parents of children who attend. Do bear in mind, however, that parents are more likely to post when they have a concern about the school, rather than when they want to offer praise.

Visiting Schools on Your Shortlist

It makes sense to pop along to open days and evenings, if you are able. Many schools are very accommodating and will allow you to make an appointment to show you round during the school day. Most schools run fundraising fetes at Christmas and in the summer, which are open to the public. This is an excellent opportunity to get a feel for the atmosphere in the school. You can normally find out about open events on schools’ websites but if you can’t see any listed, ring them to ask when these are scheduled.

Is my Child Eligible for a Place?

Most schools will accept your child provided you live in the catchment area. However, some schools are extremely popular and receive more applications than they have places. This is known as being oversubscribed. If this is the case, places are allocated on distance, so the nearer you live to the school, the more likely your child is to be offered a place.

Faith Schools

Faith schools operate catchment areas based on parishes. They may give priority to children who are baptised and/ or whose families attend church regularly. Other faith schools may simply ask you to sign to say you are supportive of the aims of the school. If your preferred school is a faith school, you should make sure you are able and willing to meet their admissions criteria. You will need to complete a Supplementary Information Form (available from the relevant school) and provide a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate.

How to Apply for a Primary School Place

You can normally apply for a primary school place from the autumn before your child will start school. The Local Authority will contact you to explain how to apply. The deadline for completing your application is in mid-January (in 2019 this is on 15th January). You may apply online or (in most areas) on paper.

You can list up to six schools in order of preference on your application form. It makes sense to choose more than one school. It is impossible to predict for certain whether you will be allocated a place at your preferred school, since it depends on so many criteria, such as birth rates.

When Will I Find Out Which School My Child Will Attend?

The Local Authority will contact you on ‘Offers Day’ in mid-April to offer your child a place at primary school. In 2019, offers will be made on 16th April and you will need to accept the place by 30th April. If you do not wish to accept the offer, you may wish to appeal. Full details of the appeals process will be included with your offer letter. Having said that, it’s worth taking a look at the school you have been allocated: it may be better than you assume.

I’ve Accepted the Offer: What Happens Next?

During the summer term, parents and children will be invited in to school. Most often, parents attend a ‘meet the teacher’ meeting and children are invited into school for the morning or afternoon. This gives them the chance to meet their new teacher and to get used to the classroom.

School will provide you with a list of items you will need. Make sure you order school uniform in advance. Get it all labelled with your child’s name, school and class. It is a good idea to try to get your child used to changing clothes without assistance. This will make their PE lessons go far more smoothly! It can be an anxious time for parents but try not to worry: most children love school and can’t wait to go back after the first day.