School Admissions and Application Process
Admission procedures for our school are managed through the local authority.
If you are interested in applying for a place in our Nursery class, it can be done on-line at http://www.salford.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-admissions/nursery/
If you wish to apply for our Reception class, this can also be done on-line at
http://www.salford.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-admissions/primary/
Alternatively, or if you wish to apply for a place in one of our classes during the school year, you can contact them directly at:
School Admissions Team Children's Services
Second Floor Unity House Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road Swinton M27 5AW
Telephone 0161 909 6508
Email school.admissions@salford.gov.uk
Or visit the website at https://www.salford.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-admissions/
Parents can find all admissions information and also apply online at: www.salford.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-place and www.salford.gov.uk/apply-for-a-secondary-place
If you need any assistance or advice, then please do not hesitate to contact us in school.
As far as possible, Salford’s Admissions and Exclusions Team will try to meet parental preferences for schools but it is not always possible to do so. Places in schools are limited by the physical space in the school. Each school has an admission number which is based on the size of the school. If the number of pupils requiring places at that school exceeds the admission number then not everybody will be successful in obtaining a place there. This is what we mean when a school is said to be oversubscribed.
If the school is oversubscribed the places will be allocated according to the following admission criteria:
Admissions Criteria
Looked after children and previously looked after children - This includes children who have ceased to be looked after because they have been adopted or become subject to a special residency order or special guardianship order.
Children in need – as defined by the Children Act (1989), ie those who are unlikely to achieve or maintain or have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining a reasonable standard of health or development or a child/children whose health or development would be further impaired without the provision of services of the local authority. Applications under this criterion would need to be supported by an appropriate professional stating that attendance at a particular school is essential. Please see below for further information.
Medical reasons: If claiming medical reasons, parents/carers must provide evidence from the doctor that the child has a medical condition which means that admission to a particular school is essential. Please see below for further information.
Siblings: Older brother or sister in attendance at the school at the date when the pupil is to be admitted. This includes step-children and foster children living with the same family at the same address. Other children may be considered under the sibling criterion provided proof is available to demonstrate that the children are permanently resident at the same address as part of the same family unit. The authority accepts that in some family units children may not be natural brother or sister.
Children living nearest to the school – The distance will be measured in a straight line using Local Land and Property Gazetteer information (LLPG) to measure the distance from the address point of the child’s home address and centre of the school in miles. Those children whose home address is closest to the school will be those who get priority for places.
Oversubscription
Where there are more children in one particular criterion than the number of places available, places will be allocated to the children whose home address is nearest the school. The distance will be measured in a straight line using LLPG information to measure the distance between the address point of the child’s home address and the centre of the school in miles. Those children whose home address is closest to the school will be those who get priority for places.
No child can automatically transfer from nursery to a reception class. Where a school has more applications than places available in the reception class, they must be allocated using the published admission criteria. Children who have attended the nursery will be considered on the same basis as those who have not.
Children in need
In Salford, children who would be eligible for this criterion are those who are at level 3 and have ongoing social worker involvement, and all at level four on the ‘Thresholds of needs and response in Salford’. For children resident in other local authorities, contact will be made with the child’s social worker to confirm that the child’s level of need falls within these boundaries of the Salford thresholds. Salford LA must have confirmation of an applicant’s level of need from an appropriate professional before they will be considered under this criterion.
Medical reasons
Applicants under this criterion will be required to submit a medical form completed by an appropriate medical professional. Forms are available from the school admissions team. These forms will be placed before the medical panel, consisting of a consultant paediatrician, school health lead nurse, educational psychologist and two headteachers. The medical panel will consider all applications under this criterion and whether attendance at the preferred school is essential based on the child’s medical condition. Attendance will be deemed essential by the panel where, due to the child’s medical needs, the location of the school, the school building, or the support it is able to offer the child is unique in meeting the child’s needs and cannot be provided by another school. Parents will be informed of the panel’s decision before places are allocated, so that where necessary they may change their preference schools.
Children considered as having a medical need to attend a school may include children with significant special educational needs, but without a statement or education, health and care plan, who require a carefully planned transition into school. These children will still be required to provide evidence to be considered by the medical panel as above.
Nursery places
Priority for places will be given to children resident within the local authority of Salford. This includes all children whose parents pay their council tax to Salford City Council. If places are still available, then these will then be given to children outside of the local authority of Salford (whose parents pay council tax to another local authority/council).
Salford City Council’s policy states that parent/carers will not be allowed to take two part-time nursery places for their child, thus limiting the number of places available.
The child’s home address
The child’s home address is considered to be the child’s parent/carer(s) place of residence, that is to say, where they are normally and regularly living. If parents are separated and the child spends time at each parents’ address, the address which will be used for admission to schools is that of the main carer. The main carer is determined as the parent who is in receipt of child benefit. If a child is resident with friends or relatives for reasons other than guardianship, the friend or relative’s address will not be considered.
Temporary addresses
The authority may at its discretion consider as genuine a child’s temporary address where, for example, the child is living with his/her parent/carer(s) in temporary accommodation due, for example, to their parent/carer(s) working commitments, whilst they are seeking a permanent address in the same area. If the parent/carer(s) main address has changed temporarily, for example where a parent/carer resides with extended family during a period of sickness or takes up temporary accommodation due to building or renovation work, then the parent/carer(s) address remains that at which the parent/carer(s) was resident before the temporary residence began.
Change of address
Any permanent change in address must be notified in writing or by email to the admissions team as soon as possible. Where a change of address occurs after the closing date and before the offer date, the local authority will consider a change of preferences to be on-time only where the change of address is over two miles from the previous address (measured from address point to address point in a straight line). Where the change of address is under two miles any changes of preference will be considered as a late application.
Waiting list policy
Children who are not offered a place at their preferred school will be placed on the school’s waiting list. The waiting list will be maintained only for the statutory period (until 31 December). Should any places become available they will be allocated in accordance with Salford local authority’s published admission criteria. After 31 December, if a parent wishes their child to remain on a waiting list for a school, they will need to reapply for a place using the procedure for in-year admissions.
Children who come under the fair access protocol will take precedence over those on the waiting list.
Class Arrangements: How Children Are Admitted
Nursery
Up to 52 full time places are available. Children can be admitted to the nursery when they are 3 years old provided they reach this age before 31 August in the year they are admitted.
Children usually transfer into the reception classes at the end of the nursery year when they are 4 years old although a place in the school nursery does not guarantee a place in Reception. An application has to be made to the LA.
Main School
Applications for a place in the school are made directly to the LA. The school office will be able to help. There are up to 60 places in each year group from Reception to Y6, usually two mixed ability classes of 30. When children are 4 years old (again by 31 August in the year of admission) they can be admitted or transferred to the reception classes. Usually, children transfer through the age groups until they are 11, when they normally move to a local secondary school
Making Arrangements For A School Place
Children can be admitted to Irlam Primary School at any appropriate age and we are always pleased to meet new parents in person and show them around. Please telephone the school to make the arrangements, or write or call in. You will always be welcomed. All admissions are coordinated through the Local Authority.
Appeals Timetable
Following an unsuccessful application, parents will be entitled to lodge an appeal. The timetable for this will be:
- Parent or carer will have at least 20 school days from the date of notification that their application was unsuccessful to prepare and lodge a written appeal
- There will be a further period of 20 school days for:
- a parent or carer to submit additional evidence
- admission authorities to submit their evidence
- the clerk to send appeal papers to the panel and parties
- Parent or carer lodging an appeal will receive at least 10 school days’ notice of their appeal hearing
- Decision letters will be sent within 5 school days of the hearing, wherever possible