Main School Admissions

The Governing Body of Morpeth All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided First School is the Admissions Authority for the school and intend to admit up to 45 pupils to the reception year group in September 2021/2022. This arrangement follows consultation between the governing body, the Local Authority, all other schools in the area. Morpeth All Saints CE Aided First School follows the admissions procedures of Northumberland County Coucil for parents/carers of all children in compliance with the School Admissions Code 2014 (DfE). 

Reception Admissions Timetable September 2021

1 November 2020 

Northumberland County Council application portal for a place in Reception opens, even if your child attends the school Nursery.

 

15 January 2021

Closing date for all applications to be received by the Local Authority.

 

16 April 2021

National Offer Day.

 

2 May 2021

Deadline for parents to refuse the school place.

 

8 May 2021

Any places that become available are allocated in criteria order (on time applicants).

 

19 May 2021

Deadline for submission of appeals

 

16 July 2021

All on time appeals to be heard by this date.

 

31 December 2021

No waiting lists held by the Local Authority after this date.

 

Temporary Arrangements to Appeal Hearings during Covid-19

In April 2020 the Government made emergency regulations which temporarily amended the 2012 regulations to give admission authorities, local authorities and appeal panels some additional flexibility when dealing with appeals during the Covid-19 outbreak and to ensure that appeal timetables work in light of school closures.  The emergency regulations were called The School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (the 2020 regulations). They temporarily amended the 2012 regulations.  These were due to expire on 31 January 2021, however, as the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are likely to be in place longer than was first envisaged, the Government have extended these regulations so the temporary arrangements now apply until 30 September 2021.  The new regulations are called The School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

 

Please note that the temporary regulations and guidance only apply where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with the School Admission Appeals Code for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Therefore, any extension will not mean the flexibility will be available for all admission authorities to use all the time. It will mean the temporary arrangements are available to use when they are needed – when they are not, the duty to comply with the Schools Admission (Appeal Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Admission Appeals Code remains. The 2021 regulations will remain in force until 30 September 2021.

 

• Face to face hearings will not take place until the guidance on social distancing indicate it is safe to do so.
• The changes will enable remote appeal hearings to take place and where this is not possible, hearings will be based on written submissions
• Appeals should be lodged as soon as possible and determined in line with the temporary timescales contained within the temporary regulations (please check the guidance/regulations for full details):-

 

• deadline for lodging an appeal at least 28 days from decision,
• 14 days written notice to be given to appellant of an appeal hearing,
• new or revised reasonable deadlines may be set for submission of evidence,
• decision letters within 7 days of hearings.

 

• Panels will have 3 members (Chair and 2 others as set out in the admissions appeal code) but a panel of 2 members can continue to hear an appeal where a third panel member has had to withdraw for a reason linked to Covid-19.
• Appeal arrangements will be reviewed to ensure they are in line with the temporary amendments
• Admission authorities should clearly set out for all parties to an appeal how the appeals process will be carried out, including how appeals will be conducted and the expected timescales for each part of the process.

 

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Education/Schools/School-admissions-places-appeals-1/Appeals.aspx

 

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Document-store/Proposed-procedure-amended-20th-May.pdf

To begin the appeals process, you will need to complete the appeal form and return it by email to schoolappeals@northumberland.gov.uk.  Alternatively, you can return the form by post:

School Admission Appeals 
Democratic Services
Human Resources & Organisational Development Directorate
Northumberland County Council
County Hall, 
Morpeth, NE61 2EF.

When you complete the appeal form, please give as much information as you can about why you wish to appeal, and provide as much evidence as possible to support your case.

In Year Admissions

In-year admissions are those that take place other than the normal time of entry to the school.

 

• An in-year admission could be a move between Northumberland schools, or a move to a Northumberland school from a school in a different county or country.
• You can submit an application for a school place up to 30 school days before the intended start date. When Northumberland County Council have received a valid application, along with the appropriate documentary evidence, we aim to process it within 15 school days.
• From 1 May you can apply for the new school year, and from 28 June all applications will only be processed for the new school year (September).
• You will get your offer of a place before the end of the academic year if you submit your application from 1 May to 28 June. 
• Applications made after 28 June cannot be guaranteed an offer of a place for the start of the new school year due to school summer holiday break. Northumberland County Council aim to process your application within 15 school days.

When is a child required to start school?

The School Admissions Code requires school admission authorities to provide for the admission of all
children in the September following their fourth birthday. However, a child is not required to start school until they have reached compulsory school age following their fifth birthday.  For summer born children this is almost a full school year after the point at which they could first be admitted.

What flexibility is there for parents who don’t feel their child is ready to start school in the
September following their fourth birthday? 

Some parents may feel their child is not ready to start school in the September following their fourth birthday. You can decide that your child attends part-time until he/she reaches compulsory school age, or that the date your child is admitted to school is deferred until later in the same academic year. Your child must, however, start school full time in the term after its fifth birthday.

Nursery Admissions

 

Pupils commence in our Nursery the term after their third birthday.  Please complete a registration form; you may either download the form below, telephone, email or visit the main school office to receive one.   We hold your application on file and 3 months before your child is due to commence we will write and invite you to one of our opening mornings.  These events are held in the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms.  Your child will then have the opportunity to attend a taster session before they commence. 

 

We are also able to offer a number additional paid top up nursery sessions - for further information please see section below.  Please don't hesitate to contact us for further information.

 

 

30 hours of free childcare for eligible families

From September 2016 to July 2017 Morpeth All Saints CE Aided First School took part in the Northumberland County Council pilot scheme to operate 30 hours free childcare for eligible families.  However, following a full appraisal we are unable to offer this provision based on staffing requirements.  We will continue to provide our existing 15 hour entitlement and also operate under our community powers a number of paid additional top up sessions.  If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Further information on availability of 30 hour places can be found at:

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Children/Family/Childcare/Early-years-education-%E2%80%93-free-entitlement.aspx

Due to a pressure on places within the middle schools in the Morpeth Partnership, the Governing Body of the Three Rivers Multi-Academy Trust will be increasing places at Chantry Middle School from September 2018; details of this will be published on the Trust’s website.