Guide to Primary, Infant, Junior and Middle School Admissions for 2009-2010


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Welcome

Welcome to the schools in Suffolk booklet 2009-2010: I hope you find this information helpful when you are applying for a school place for your child.

This booklet contains some key information about schools maintained by Suffolk County Council. It does not cover independent schools in Suffolk. It explains our admissions policy and the criteria we use to decide who is offered a place when a school gets too many applicants.

All schools in Suffolk work in close partnership with the county council to provide the best possible educational opportunities for children and young people.

Despite the ongoing review of local government in Suffolk we remain committed to helping young people in the county to realise their full potential. We remain committed to all schools in Suffolk, and the School Organisation Review programme will progress as planned. We want to adapt and continue to improve in order to meet our ambitions for transforming learning within communities. The information in this booklet reflects the current school situation and there will be no immediate changes for at least two years, that is to say the school year 2010-2011. You can find out more details by looking at the School Organisation Review web pages at www.suffolk.gov.uk/sor.

As part of our overall programme of transforming learning with communities we are carrying out further programmes of development within the education sector. We are reviewing Special Educational Needs provision in the county to take account of the changing needs of those young people with additional educational needs. The school organisation review and the review of special educational needs puts us in a great position to take advantage of government funding through the Building Schools for the Future programme. This could amount to at least £600 million of investment over the next 10 to 15 years to rebuild or refurbish our secondary schools (including pupil referral units (PRUs) and special schools). At the same time, some of our primary schools will benefit from the related Primary Capital Programme which would bring investment of up to £100 million into Suffolk over the next 15 years.

On behalf of Suffolk County Council and the schools in Suffolk, I would like to wish your child every success and happiness in his or her future school career.

Rosalind Turner
Director for Children and Young People
Suffolk County Council

We have been careful to make sure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of printing. We cannot rule out, however, the need for changes between now and the start of the 2009-2010 school year.

Contents

What does the jargon mean?

Section 1 - Introduction to Schools in Suffolk
How schools are organised?
Are there different types of school?
How do I know which schools are available in my area?
Where can I get more information about each school?
Do I have a choice of schools?
How can I find out more about schools?
Applying for a school place from outside the UK
Applying for an early full time place or a place in a different age group

Section 2 - School Organisation Review

Section 3 - How to apply for a place in the first year of entry at primary/junior/middle school
When can my child start school full time?
When do I need to apply for a full time place
Which schools can I apply for?
How to apply for a place in the first year of a Suffolk junior or middle school
Timetable for applications
Applying for a voluntary-aided school
Moving house
Child who lives at two addresses
Applying for a school outside Suffolk
What will happen if I don’t make an application?
Applications made after the closing date

Section 4 - Your application checklist for the normal admissions round

Section 5 - How to apply for a school place at other times of the year
Applying at other times of the year
Moving into an area
Applying for your catchment school
Applying for a school which is not your catchment school
Applying for a voluntary-aided school
Changing schools in Suffolk
When can my application be considered?
Looked after Children Protocol
Children with Challenging Behaviour and Managed Moves Protocol
Fair Access Protocol
Gypsy and Traveller children

Section 6 - School Preference Advice Service

Section 7 - How we offer school places
Admission oversubscription criteria
Distance tie breaker
Multiple births
Waiting lists

Section 8 - Voluntary-aided primary and middle schools-admissions oversubscription criteria

Section 9 - How to make an appeal
Appeals for children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs
Is there a deadline to appeal by?
What happens at an appeal hearing?
If my appeal is unsuccessful can I make another application?
Where can I get further information?

Section 10 - Early Education
What is early education?
How much early education can my child have?
When can my child start early education?
Where can my child get early education?
How can my child get a place at a school-based nursery class?
Nursery classes in community and voluntary-controlled schools
Nursery classes in voluntary-aided schools
How long can my child stay in a nursery class?
How we offer places in a nursery class

Section 11 - Special Educational Needs
What should I do if my child has learning difficulties?
What are special educational needs?
Statutory Assessment and Statement of Special Educational Needs
If my child has special educational needs, do I have a choice about which school they attend?
Are there any special schools and specialist units in Suffolk?

Section 12 - Useful information
Term dates
School Transport
Getting help with the cost of going to school
School Meals
Parent Partnership Service
Getting involved with school
Attending school
Children who have been excluded from school
Children who find it difficult to cope at school

Section 13 - List of schools in Suffolk
How to use these tables
Primary schools
Middle schools
Special schools
Pupil Referral Units
Nursery schools
Children’s Centres

Section 14 - Primary Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for primary and middle schools in Suffolk in full (2009-2010 school year)
Annex one – Primary and Middle Voluntary Aided Schools in Suffolk
Annex two – Admissions Timetable for the 2009-2010 School Year

Complaints or Compliments

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