The Governors of Lady Seaward's C of E Primary School will admit up to the Planned Admission Number (PAN) of 12 children in each year group as from September 2010.

As the school is voluntary aided the governing body is the admissions authority. As such it will work to the provisions of the Code of Practice for Admissions and the Local Authority (LA) co-ordinated admission scheme.

The governing body would need to refer to Appendix A of the Primary Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme which sets out how all admitting authorities in Devon deal with children arriving ‘in year’.

The law requires every child to be admitted to primary school from the beginning of the term following the child’s fifth birthday. The normal year of admission for Lady Seaward’s CE Primary School is Reception year.

Children whose fifth birthday falls between 1 September and 28 February may start school in September; children whose fifth birthday falls between 1 March and 31 August may start school in January.

DEFERRED ADMISSION

Deferred admission is where, when you have been offered a place, you can decide to delay your child’s actual start date until they reach statutory school age, within the same academic year.

Children born between 1st September and 28/29 February can defer entry until the start of the spring term (January) Children born between 1st March and 31st August do not have an automatic right to defer admission.

You will need to apply by the normal deadline and, after a place is offered, you must inform the Headteacher that you wish to defer. The child’s place at the school will be kept open for them to join at the later date.

DELAYED ADMISSION

This is where you wish your child to start an academic year later that normal, but still entering at the Reception stage. Such an arrangement must be supported with medical/educational evidence. A place cannot be guaranteed a year in advance. Please contact the school or Devon School Admissions Team (helpline 0845 155 1019) for further information. It is advisable to submit an application on time in any event whilst your request for delayed admission is considered by all parties.

Details for applications can be obtained from the ‘First Step’ Primary Admissions booklet or online at www.devon.gov.uk/admissions. The closing date for applications is 15th January 2010.

A child who has a statement of Special Educational Needs where the school is named on the statement, will be admitted.

OVERSUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA

Where there are more applications than places available the following priority must be followed:

• 1. Children in Care.
• 2. Children living in the school’s designated area with a sibling who is attending the school at the time of admission.
• 3. Other children living in the school’s designated area.
• 4. Children living outside the school’s designated area, but with a sibling who is attending the school at the time of admission.
• 5. Children living outside the school’s designated area and of parents who attend a Christian place of worship.
• 6. Other children living outside the school’s designated area.

In the case of a tie-breaker in any category, priority will be given to children living nearest the school as measured by straight line distance using a Geographical Information System from the entrance of the residential dwelling to the school as plotted on GIS (the shorter the distance the higher the priority).

If the above tie-braker is not sufficient to distinguish between applicants in a particular category, there will be a random ballot as set out in the Code of Practice sections. This will be undertaken by the LA Admissions Manager in the presence of a school representative by the operation of an electronic random number generator.

Definitions

Children in Care: These children are looked after by or provided with accommodation in the exercise of its functions by Devon Local Authority or any other local authority which has informed Devon LA of its wish to place a child.

Living: This is defined as the address where the child is normally resident. Where a child resides through shared custody, the address will be with the parent who receives child benefit. Evidence of place of residence is necessary in the form of two recent utility bills or receipt of Benefit evidence.

Designated Area: The geographical area served by a particular school. It is sometimes called the ‘catchment’ area. The designated area for Lady Seward’s C of E Primary School can be viewed at http://gis.devon.gov.uk or by contacting the school which has a map you can view. Alternatively you can contact D.C.C. who will be able to advise whether you live within the school’s designated area.

Sibling: This will be a full, adopted half or step brother or sister and will include a full, adopted half or step brother or sister living at a different address. Foster children will count as a brother or sister to those living within the foster household or where appropriate, the natural parental home address.

Parent/Carer: A parent is any person who has parental responsibility or care of the child. Where admission arrangements refer to “Parents’ attendance at church” it is sufficient for just one parent to attend.

In the event of the application for admission being refused, parents have the right to appeal to the Clerk to the Independent Appeals Panel at County Hall – helpline 0845 155 1019.