Parents wishing to register their child for this school may either telephone or visit. We encourage parents to contact the school to arrange a conducted tour of the school at parents convenience. Parents are requested to register their children for admission well in advance. School registration forms are available from school but the LEA deals with all admissions to primary schools.
Parents of children due to commence Reception the following year can complete an application form from the Autumn before admission.
Further information is available from the school admissions team on 01432 260926/261574 or schooladmissions@herefordshire.gov.ukÂ
Please read the guidance notes attached to the form. Please ensure your child’s current school completes the relevant section. The completed form needs to be submitted to school. Information you  provide on the form will help us to prepare for your child’s admission should a place be offered.
The application timetable begins with the online application processes opening in September of each year. Parents must then submit application forms by January and the national ‘offer’ day is in April each year.
Full details of the application process are provided in Herefordshire Councils ‘Admission Booklet’ which can be accessed by clicking here:
The booklet contains information relating to catchment areas, definitions, class sizes, deferred entry, waiting lists and information concerning SEN and those children with disabilities.
Children are entitled to start school in the September following their 4th birthday and must start their education by the beginning of the term after their 5th birthday. However, we encourage all children to start full time school in the September following their fourth birthday. This is to ensure they have a full three terms in the reception class before moving on to the work in Year 1. However, admission may also take place in the following January if the child is felt not to be sufficiently mature or if a further term in pre-school care would be beneficial (this is only for children who are 5 after 31 December of that year). Please contact the school to discuss the appropriate time for your child to start.
Every school has a Pupil Admission Number (PAN), this is the number of children that it can accept into a class. St Weonards Academy’s PAN is currently 7.
Enrolment sessions are held each Summer term. Notification of these sessions will arrive as a separate letter. There is further information concerning our admission arrangements for Reception children in our Prospectus which is also available on this website. Full details on our Admissions selection and over-subscription criteria can be found on this website under ‘Policies and Statements’.Â
During the term preceding full time entry, several half days are offered so your child can spend time in the infant class becoming familiar with the other children and the adults in school. These dates will be sent out during the preceeding half term.Â
Should the number of applications for admission exceed the admission number the
Directors/Governors will apply the following criteria (in the rank shown) to decide the order in which places will be allocated. This will also apply to waiting lists. The Local Authority will keep a waiting list on behalf of the academy for the normal-round of admissions, up until the end of the Autumn term.
Children with a Statement of Special Education Needs or an Educational, Health & Care
Plan which names a particular school will be allocated places, after which places are
allocated according to an agreed set of criteria, in strict order of priority.
Priority 1 – Looked after children and children who were looked after in England, but ceased to be due to being adopted or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order
Priority 2 – Looked after children and children who were looked after outside of England, but ceased to be due to being adopted or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order
Priority 3 – Children living within the defined catchment area of the school;
Priority 4 – Sibling connection – Children who have an older sibling at the preferred
school not only at the time of application but also when the younger child is due to start;
Priority 5 – Exceptional circumstances – Children with exceptional medical, social or
compassionate grounds for admission and whose parents can show that entry to a
particular school only is necessary for the wellbeing of their child. Parents are required to produce a medical certificate or other appropriate information preferably from an
independent source. Applications on such grounds will not be considered by the Director of Children’s Wellbeing’s advisory panel unless this supporting information is attached to application forms received by 31st October 2021 (secondary schools) or 15th January 2022 (primary schools);
Priority 6 – Distance – Children who live nearest to the school by the shortest available walking route
The Early Years Foundation Stage starts at birth and continues until the end of the Reception year. This ensures a smooth transition from your child’s experiences at home, in pre-school and then as they start school.
We have established close links with the nurseries and pre-schools and meet with them to ensure that each child’s strengths and interests are shared. During the Summer Term we have several visit days where you and your child are invited in to school and spend time meeting staff and getting used to the new environment. We also offer a home visit.
We build on the information from nurseries and pre-schools and from the information that you give us to assess your child’s engagement and involvement across a range of activities. This information is collated in an ‘entry profile’ during the first few weeks of the term.
During a child’s Reception year we are building a picture of how they learn which will be used to plan for learning when they start on the National Curriculum in Year One. We identify the strengths and areas for development for each child. We want to ensure that each child will have a good level of development to take with them on their journey through school.
Prior to starting school we send out a booklet with advice on how to prepare/settle your child into school.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances we ask all reception children to attend school full time from the start of term.
We will be taking lots of photographs of the children and our photographs make the learning visible ~ we can show how children are learning from first hand experiences. At the end of Reception you will receive your child’s Learning Journey.
We communicate with parents electronically via several electronic platforms, notably text, email and tapestry.
We welcome parents considering transferring their child during the school year to contact the school to arrange a visit and tour of the school.
We also encourage children considering an in-year move to attend St Weonards for a taster session. Prior to any move, parents will receive an admissions pack which needs to be completed prior to the child enrolling at the school. The pack includes forms relating to admissions, health and well being, dietary requirements, permissions and consent forms. Â
The Early Years Foundation Stage starts at birth and continues until the end of the Reception year. This ensures a smooth transition from your child’s experiences at home, in pre-school and then as they start school.
We have established close links with the nurseries and pre-schools and meet with them to ensure that each child’s strengths and interests are shared. During the Summer Term we have several visit days where you and your child are invited in to school and spend time meeting staff and getting used to the new environment.
We build on the information from nurseries and pre-schools and from the information that you give us to assess your child’s engagement and involvement across a range of activities. This information is collated in an ‘entry profile’ during the first few weeks of the term.
During a child’s Reception year we are building a picture of how they learn which will be used to plan for learning when they start on the National Curriculum in Year One. We identify the strengths and areas for development for each child. We want to ensure that each child will have a good level of development to take with them on their journey through school.
The children start school full time from day one as they are usually used to being in pre-school. There is an option to do half days if a child needs shorter days until half term. Parents can discuss this with the class teacher and it can be tailored to each child’s individual need.
We will be taking lots of photographs of the children and documenting their learning through a ‘Learning Journey’ which can be accessed through a secure online website.
Our photographs make the learning visible ~ we can show how children are learning from first hand experiences. At the end of Reception you will receive your child’s Learning Journey in a pdf format to download.
Email
admin@stweonards.hmfa.org.uk
Phone
01981 580352
Contact
Mrs A Williams
Address
St Weonards Academy
Mount Way,
St. Weonards
Hereford
HR2 8NU