Admissions
Joining Our School
If you are considering sending your child to Elm C of E Primary School, we strongly recommend that you arrange a visit to the school.
We are an inclusive school that welcomes children from all backgrounds and abilities.
The governing body of Elm Church of England Primary School applies the regulations on admissions fairly and equally to all those who wish to attend this school.
How Places Are Offered
For admission into Reception each September, the LA, on behalf of the Governing Body, will offer a set number of places. This is the Published Admission Number (PAN) for that year group.
In the event that more applications than the PAN are received, the oversubscription criteria will be applied to determine priority for places. Both preferences are treated equally, regardless of whether they are first or second preference.
Over-subscription Criteria
Children who have a Statement of Special Educational Need (SEN) / Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that names the school will be admitted. NB. Those children with a statement of SEN / EHCP that does not name the school will be referred to the Statutory Assessment Team (SAT) to determine an appropriate place.
1. Children in Care (CIC) and Children who were previously in care (CIC) but ceased to be so by reason of adoption, a residence order (now known as a child arrangement order) or special guardianship order. Children who appear to the Admission Authority to have been in state care (i.e. in the care of or accommodated by a public authority, religious organization or any other provider whose sole/main purpose is to benefit society) outside of England but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted only.
2. Children living in the catchment area with a sibling at the school at the time of admission;
3. Children living in the catchment area;
4. Children living outside the catchment area who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission;
5. Children living outside the catchment area who have applied and been unable to gain a place at their Cambridgeshire catchment area school because of oversubscription;
6. Children who live outside the catchment area, but nearest the school as measured by a straight line.
Tie breaker: If the school is unable to distinguish between applicants using the published criteria, including those who live in blocks of flats with the same building entrance, places will be offered via a random draw which will be supervised by someone independent of the school. Note: In the case of multiple births or brothers and sisters in the same year group, where there is only one place available in the school, both will be considered together as one application.
In criteria 5 and 6, priority in a tie-break will be given to children living nearest the school according to the shortest straight line distance. The distance is measured using a straight line from the centre point of the home to the centre point of the school as determined by the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG).
If a place becomes available it will be offered to the child at the top of the reserve list for the year group or, if no reserve list exists, the place will be offered to the first child for whom an application is received.
Reserve Lists
When an application is refused, the child’s details are automatically placed on a reserve list for the year group, ranked according to the oversubscription criteria.
As part of the co-ordinated scheme for primary admissions, the LA Admissions Team holds the initial reserve list on behalf of the governing body until the end of the first week of the autumn term in the initial year of intake.
If A Place Opens Up
Parents will be contacted immediately if a place becomes available for their child, but should be aware that their child’s place on a reserve list may change if an application is subsequently received that meets a higher criterion than their own.
The governing body then manages the reserve list until the end of the autumn term.
Mid-Phase Applications
Where mid-phase applications are received, children’s details will be automatically placed on a reserve list for the year group, ranked according to the oversubscription criteria.
Reserve lists will be held for a period of one term following the term for which the place was refused.
Appeals
The parent of any child who is refused a place at a VA or F Primary School has a right of appeal to an independent Appeals Panel. The panel consists of three people who are independent of the school’s Governing Body and the Local Education Authority.
The panel will consider the circumstances of the case put before them and the Governing Body and parents must abide by the decision it makes.
Appeals for VA or F Primary School are currently arranged by the LA Admissions Team on behalf of the Governing Body. Further information and appeal forms are available from the Admissions Team.
Infant Class Size Review
Please note that where a child is refused a place in an infant class because of the requirement to limit class size to 30 children, parents have the right to have their decision reviewed. This process is very similar to an appeal, but the circumstances in which the panel can find in the parents favour are limited by law. For further information, please contact the school office or the LA Admissions Team.
Definitions
For the purpose of admission to the school, the Governing Body has adopted the LA’s definitions of parent, sibling and home address. Details of these can be found at the back of the LA’s admission booklet for parents.