Joining the school

CONSULTATION ON ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS 2024/2025

We will be consulting on our admission arrangements for 2024/2025 through Plymouth City Council. The consultation will be live between Monday 5 December 2022 and 15 January 2023. If you wish to find out about our policy or make any comment, please visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/admissionconsultation

 

ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS

Administration of admission arrangements to Plymouth schools is dealt with centrally by Plymouth City Council. A booklet, ‘Starting School’, setting out the Reception admissions procedures and criteria for each school, together with an application (Common Admission Preference Form) is available from the City Council Admissions Team. Completed forms, or online admissions must be returned to the School Admission Team or first preference school by the submission date in the Autumn Term prior to starting. Widewell’s admissions policy is published annually on our website.

Parents and carers of children seeking to join the school in other years, should in the first instance contact the In-year Admissions Team of the City Council on  01752 307170 / 307467 or at inyear.admissions@plymouth.gov.uk

Widewell Primary Academy welcomes all children regardless of special needs or disability. Pupils with additional needs may have extra visits before starting school and there will be close liaison with parents to ensure that the correct arrangements are in place.

 

APPEALS

Every effort is made to make a place available for your child in our school. However, all schools have a limit on the number of children they can take. In the case of Widewell Primary Academy this is 30 in each year group.

If the number of children wanting a place is below the set figure, your child will be offered a place. There may, however, come a point when there are too many children of that year group for them all to be given a place. If a place is not available on application you have the right to appeal to Plymouth City Council Education Authority. Appeals are heard by an independent panel. A Guide to Admission Appeals can be obtained from the Admissions Team via the City Council website: www.plymouth.gov.uk

 

STARTING SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME

Starting school is a very important time for you, your child and the school. We all need to work together to make the transition smooth and rewarding. In the term prior to their entry, pupils are invited into school for visits. This will help them become familiar with the surroundings and routines of school. During this period, there will be meetings for parents to discuss our partnership with you and talk about any concerns you might have.

Pupils will be admitted to Widewell Primary Academy in the September of the academic year in which they are five. The Early Years Curriculum is grounded in active learning. Through practical activities, purposeful play and talk, pupils develop an understanding of the world and the basic concepts they will need for their later learning. Parents can play a major role in fostering good attitudes to learning, developing language skills and promoting good behaviour.

Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all Early Years’ providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.

At Widewell Primary Academy we value the potential of home-school links and make every effort to involve parents in the learning and development of their child. At the start of each new school year, class teachers run workshops about the curriculum and how parents can help their child at home.

 

JOINING THE SCHOOL LATER ON

Sometimes children join the school later on in their school life. We make every effort to ensure they are welcomed, looked after, and monitored so that they quickly make friends and can find their way around the school. Teachers give children time to settle in before making an assessment of their academic abilities. This assessment, together with records from the previous school, will enable your child to have the best start in our school. Parents and carers are asked to contact the school if their child has difficulty settling.

 

MOVING ON - TRANSFERRING TO SECONDARY SCHOOL

At the end of primary school, children transfer to a secondary school. The large majority of children go on to Tor Bridge High School, however our pupils also transfer to Plymouth High School for Girls, Devonport High School for Girls, Devonport High School for Boys, Sir John Hunt Community Sports College, Notre Dame Roman Catholic School, St Boniface’s Roman Catholic College, Plymouth College and the School for Creative Arts. We have strong links with both Tor Bridge and Sir John Hunt through the curriculum and community events. Year 6 pupils have opportunities to meet staff from their chosen secondary school and to spend at least a day at their new school as part of an induction programme. This is seen as a very positive process ensuring a smooth transfer.