Admissions to Year R 2023
Halfway Houses Primary School
DCSF No: 886 5220 Postcode: ME12 3AP
Admission to School September 2021
Applications for children due to start primary and junior school in September 2021
open on 5th November 2020
If your child was born between 1st September 2016 and 31st August 2017, you must apply for a school place for September 2021 before the closing date of 15th January 2021.
(offers released on Thursday 16 April 2021)
The Kent County Council (KCC) website: www.kent.gov.uk/primaryadmissions, fully explains the process and gives details of all the primary schools in Kent.
You can apply for a place in one of two ways:
You can apply online at www.kent.gov.uk/ola
or
You can complete KCC’s Reception Common Application Form (RCAF), which is available from the school office, and return it either to us or direct to Primary Admissions Team, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ;
You are able to select up to three schools, putting them in order of preference, with the one you most want first.
Please only complete one application form, either on line or paper form, not both. KCC will manage the allocation process for all primary schools in Kent, and you will be informed of the school offer on 16th April 2021 after 4pm
· You must apply for siblings of current pupils, they will not automatically be given a place
· Please do not put the same school in all three choice boxes
· Please do not only list one choice of school
You will be asked for proof of your address and the child’s birth certificate during the admission process.
Halfway Houses Primary School will be able to admit 90 children from September 2021. The school’s Admission Policy, below and available elsewhere on the school website, shows the criteria we shall use to rank your applications, and the order in which they are applied.
The school is very happy to welcome prospective parents as part of the process of making the best choice for their children.
We are holding open sessions, where you will have the opportunity to be shown around the school.
Our open sessions will be:
Please contact the school office to confirm if you wish to visit (01795 662875) or email: (office@halfwayhouses.kent.sch.uk).
Tours last approximately 45 minutes.
Finally, please remember you must make your application
before 15th January 2021
Admission Policy September 2021
Pupils will be admitted to the school without reference to ability, aptitude or background.
The school's standard number is 90, which means that admission for up to 90 children must be provided for each year.
Admissions to the reception classes will be during the academic year in which a child's fifth birthday falls.
Where the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out here to decide which children should be admitted:
Looked After Child
Is defined as a child under the age of 18 years for whom the local authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents/carers (section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under part IV of the Act. This applies equally to children who, immediately after being looked after by the local authority, became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order. (As defined by section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 or section 8 or 14A of the Children Act 1989).
Sibling
Children with a sibling attending the school at the time of admission. Sibling is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in
the same house including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters.
Children with Exceptional Compassionate, Social, Medical/Health or Special Access Needs
Medical, health, social and special access reasons will be applied in accordance with the school's legal obligations in particular those under the Quality Act 2010. Priority will be given to those children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend Halfway Houses Primary School. Equally this priority will apply to children whose parents'/guardians' physical or mental health or social needs mean that they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Such claims will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or other practitioner who can demonstrate a special connection between these needs and Halfway Houses Primary School.
Distance/Nearness of Children's Home to School
Remaining places will be offered to children according to how near their permanent residence is to the school, with those living closer to the school receiving a higher priority. The school used measurements provided by the Local Authority. We use the distance between the child's permanent home address and the school, measured in a straight line using Ordnance Survey address point data. Distances are measured from a point defined as within the child's home to a point defined as within the school as specified by Ordnance Survey. The same address point on the school site is used for everybody. Further information on how distances are calculated are available in the Admissions Booklets available on the KCC Admissions website. In the unlikely event that two or more children live at the same distance from the school and in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, then names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child is given the place. Procedures for admissions will be described in the Local Authority's admissions booklet.
The criteria above, in the order as set out, will also be applied to fill any vacancies that occur during the school year.
Admission appeals
If we do not offer a child a place at this school, it is because to do so would prejudice the education of other children by allowing the numbers of children in the school to increase too much.
If parents wish to appeal against a decision to refuse entry, they can do so by appealing directly to the school. An independent appeals panel, set up by the Local Authority, then meets to consider all appeals by parents who have been refused a place and who wish to appeal against this decision. An appeals panel's decision is binding for all parties concerned. If the appeals panel decides that the school should admit then the school will accept this and continue to do all it can to provide the best education for all the children at the school. An appeals form can be collected from the main school office or can be downloaded from the KCC website.
The school will agree any proposed changes in the admission policy with the LA.
Details of the admission policy and appeal arrangements will be published annually.