We are committed to meeting the needs of all children including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We would ask parents to discuss the identified needs with the school prior to starting so that appropriate intervention and support can be planned and implemented. Advice from the LA or other agencies may be requested to ensure any the school can meet any needs appropriately.
Full details of the admission arrangements can be found in the Primary and Secondary Admissions brochure produced by Durham County Council and further information can be found in the school Admissions Policy that can be found in the School Policies section of our website.
Visit the Durham County Council website for information regarding the school admission process and primary school admissions. To appeal against an admission decision visit: School admissions-appeals.
Requests for future Nursery places should be made directly to the school office once a child has passed their second birthday. Birth certificates are checked, places are allocated, a home visit is made and the child normally begins Nursery just after their third birthday.
All other admissions(Reception to Year 6) are administered by School Places and Admissions section, County Hall. Prospective parents should contact 03000 265 879 or email jane.jack@durham.gov.uk
Admission to Community & Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools
Over-subscription Criteria
If more children want a place than there are places available, we will offer places according to the following criteria, strictly in order of priority:
i. Children in Public Care
ii. Medical Reasons
Pupils with very exceptional medical factors directly related to school placement.
iii. Sibling Links
Pupils who have a brother or sister already attending the preferred school and who is expected to be on roll at the school at the time of admission.
iv. Distance
Pupils who live nearest the preferred school measured by the shortest walking route. This will be based on the parents’ address. Where the last place to be allocated would mean that a multiple birth sibling group i.e. twins, triplets or other multiple birth sibling groups, would be split, the sibling group will be given priority over other children.
Measuring of Routes / Distance
We use a Geographic Information System (GIS) to measure the shortest walking route. The shortest walking routes are measured from the nearest entrance to a house (e.g. front gate) or flats (e.g. front door of the main building) to the nearest school entrance.
Admission to New Brancepeth Primary School Nursery follows LEA criteria and procedure.
- Parents request that their child’s name be put on the Nursery waiting list giving details of child’s name, address, date of birth.
- Parents receive written acknowledgement of the school’s recording of their child’s name on the waiting list.
Criteria for Nurseries offering places to children are as follows:
i. Children ‘in need’ in accordance with the Children Act;
ii. Children with previous experience of LEA or primary education;
iii. Date of entry to primary school.
3. Parents are notified when a place is available for their child to start Nursery.
Parents must note that, once a place is accepted at a particular Nursery, they cannot transfer to another LEA Nursery unless the family has moved to a different area.
To ensure your child’s transition into school is smooth, please view the School Office section and download and complete our school forms.
Paper copies of these forms can be collected from the school office and will be distributed at the Nursery open day. If you would like to arrange a visit to school prior to your child starting, please contact the school office.
Applying for a school place if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan or a Statement of SEN
Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (or Statement of Special Education Needs) follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school. Please continue to complete Durham County Council’s parental preference form, as part of the admission process to a new school. You continue to have a right to request a particular school and this will be considered alongside the information that we have about your child’s special educational needs. The information would have been provided as part of the Education, Health and Care assessment or following the review meeting.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
