Admissions Arrangements
Visits for Prospective Reception Parents
Open Days
In advance of making applications, Ickleford Primary School will host sessions for prospective parents to view the school in operation to help your decision making process.
Open Days will be:
Either an am or pm sessions in November 2023 and January 2024 in advance of Reception admissions for September 2024.
These sessions will include:
- A talk from the Headteacher or SLT
- A tour of the school in operation
- A chat with school ambassadors
Sadly, we do not allow any children (including babies in pushchairs) to attend these sessions as we find this can be distracting for all parents looking around our school and for our pupils who are working in their classrooms.
If you wish to attend one of these sessions, please register in advance with our office adminstrator on 01462 459150.
Reception Admissions
Our Published Admissions Number (PAN) means there are 30 places available each year in our Reception class and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) controls our admission arrangements. HCC sends out information in the academic year before a child is eligible for primary education (i.e. when the child is 3 or 4 years old). Parents give their four preferences for their primary school choices and apply online.
Prospective parents are welcome to visit the school during one of our advertised open days, in the autumn term to help them select their preferences. Applications can only be made via the HCC online portal.
The deadline for applications is around 15th January each year. Places are allocated around 19th April each year. If Ickleford Primary School has more applications than there are places available, HCC allocates places according to its published criteria.
Parents who have not been allocated a place for their child have a right of appeal to an independent panel. This is organised by the Clerk of Appeals, County Hall, Hertford SG13 8DF.
Induction sessions for new Reception children
New Reception children, whose parents and carers have officially accepted a place at our school, will be invited to come into school together, towards the end of the summer term before they are due to start with us. This will give the children a chance to meet the other children in the class, meet their class teachers and experience class routine, whilst parents can meet each other, gain vital information about school routines and expectations, look at school uniform sizing and ask vital questions. It is advisable not to book a family summer holiday in early/mid July, as alternative induction sessions may not be possible at the end of a busy term. One of our Reception class teachers also completes a nursery/preschool visit, which enables them to get to know your child’s needs in advance.
If your child has additional needs please do not hesitate to contact us as quickly as possible after officially accepting your child’s place. The earlier we can discuss arrangements for your child, the better provision we can begin to make for their start in September.
In Year Admissions
If a child is already in primary aged education, parents may apply if they want their child to go to a different school. If families have moved house, they can also apply to change school during the school year. We call this an in year admission.
Parents can make an in year application with HCC for Ickleford Primary School, along with most other schools in Hertfordshire. N.B. Please do not contact school directly as we will only refer you back to HCC admissions. Parents can list up to four school preferences. If places are available, HCC will offer families their highest preference possible. Again, this type of application can only be done online. For information on this process click on the link below.
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/inyearadmissions
If you are told a place is not available at our school, you may wish to add yourself onto the continuing interest list held by HCC. You will be contacted by HCC if a place becomes available for you. Continuing interest lists for all schools close at the end of each academic year. You must submit a new application for the approaching academic year and children will not be considered for any places until the new application is received.
Once you have been offered a place with us, we will make special arrangements for the family to come and look around the school and for your child to experience an induction session in their new class before officially starting.
