The Road to Learning 2008

Applying for a nursery class place

The process for getting a nursery place in a Barking and Dagenham community school

Important information

When applying for a reception place, it is neither an advantage nor disadvantage if your child goes to a nursery class because:

If your child goes to a nursery class, this will not guarantee a place in the reception class of any of the borough's infant or primary schools; and
If your child has never been to a nursery class, this will not affect your chances of getting a reception place for your child

If your child was born between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005, they can apply for a nursery class place starting in September 2008. If you would like your child to go to a nursery class in September 2008 within a community school nursery in Barking and Dagenham, you must apply directly to the schools concerned. We recommend that you visit the school before you apply.

The length of time that your child's name has been on a waiting list does not give you priority over other applicants. However, we do give priority to parents and carers who live, with their children, in the borough of Barking and Dagenham.

We will need proof of where you and your child live. We define your home as the address where the parent or carer is responsible for paying council tax and where child benefit is registered (for the child applying). If the family moves to a new address, we will need proof of your new address as above.

You cannot appeal against decisions made about nursery places.

If you live in Barking and Dagenham

If there are more applications than places for any nursery classes, the nursery will use the following criteria, in the priority order 1 to 4, to decide which children we will offer places to.

Admission criteria

Priority 1

Children who are in the care of a local authority.

Priority 2

Children who have a sibling (brother or sister) at the school or linked junior school at the date that child is due to start school. (Please see note 2).

Priority 3

The oldest of the children in the relevant age group (those who are 3 years of age by 31 August immediately before the school year in which they might be admitted) who live in the school's neighbourhood area at the date they are due to start school.

Priority 4

Children who live closest to the school. This is measured in kilometres by the nearest available walking route using recognised footpaths, by-ways and public highways which our Highways Department are responsible for and have numbered and maintain.

Important notes

The child's home must be the permanent address where they live with their legal guardian. This address should be named for the parent's or carer's council tax bill and where child benefit is addressed
Brother or sister (sibling) means a full, half, step, adopted brother or sister or long-term fostered child living at the same address and goes to the named school. Please make sure you name all siblings on your application form. If they are not listed on your form, we cannot consider them under priority 2 listed above
The Admissions and Attendance Team or the school will be able to tell you the name of your neighbourhood school
Within any 1 criterion (priority), we will use distance from home to school as a tie-breaker for pupils who have equal claim for a place. We will measure distances using SIA's measuring system Smart
If it is proved that we have given your child a place based on false, inaccurate or misleading information, we will withdraw the place and may take legal action

Waiting lists for nursery classes

If a school receives more applications than it has places available (is oversubscribed), it will keep a waiting list for all the children that were not successful. This list will start with children living in Barking and Dagenham, in priority order and then continue with children living outside the borough in priority order.

Nurseries in Barking and Dagenham voluntary aided schools

If you would like to apply for a place at a voluntary aided school nursery, you must apply directly to the school concerned. Each voluntary aided school is responsible for who gets places in their nursery classes. Their admission criteria are in these web pages. Please contact the individual schools for more information.

Applying for a nursery or reception place in another borough

If you would prefer your child to go to a nursery class, or reception class in a neighbouring borough, you should contact the relevant authority. However, if your child does go to a nursery class or reception class in another borough, we will not accept any financial responsibility arising from this arrangement.

If you live outside Barking and Dagenham

After we have given places to children in Barking and Dagenham we offer places that are left to children living outside the borough. We use the admission criteria below in priority order to do this.

Admission criteria

Priority 1

Children who are in the care of a local authority.

Priority 2

Children who have a sibling (brother or sister) at the school or linked junior school at the date that child is due to start. Please see note 2.

Priority 3

The oldest of the children in the relevant age group (those who are 3 years of age by 31 August immediately before the school year in which they might be admitted).

Priority 4

Children who live closest to the school, measured in kilometres by the nearest available walking route using recognised footpaths, by-ways and public highways which our Highways Department are responsible for numbering and maintaining.

The Road to Learning 2008

Applying for a nursery class place

The process for getting a nursery place in a Barking and Dagenham community school

Important information

If you live in Barking and Dagenham

Admission criteria

Priority 1

Priority 2

Priority 3

Priority 4

Important notes

Waiting lists for nursery classes

Nurseries in Barking and Dagenham voluntary aided schools

Applying for a nursery or reception place in another borough

If you live outside Barking and Dagenham

Admission criteria

Priority 1

Priority 2

Priority 3

Priority 4

Contact