When children start school

Most children start school in the September after their fourth birthday. 

You need to apply for admission to Reception for September 2025 if your child was born between 1^st  September 2020 and 31^st August 2021. 

You must apply for a Reception class place even if your child currently goes to a nursery class at a school. Going to a nursery attached to a school does not increase your chances of getting a Reception class place at that school. 

If you want your child to start later, you still need to apply for a Reception class place at the same time as everyone else. 

When you get your school offer

If you applied for admission to Reception class for September 2025, we will offer you a school place on 16^th April 2025 (National Offer Day). 

• If you applied online, you will be able to see the offer in your admissions account online from 8.30am on 16^th April 2025. We will also send you the offer by email. 
• If you completed a paper application form, we will send your school offer by post. We send offer letters by 2nd class post on 16^th April 2025. 

We will tell the Headteacher of the school that your child has a place. The school will contact you with further information. 

Some schools need you to complete an acceptance form. They will send you this form with their welcome pack. 

The first day of the Autumn term 2025 is Wednesday 3^rd September 2025. Your child should go to school on that day unless the school tells you otherwise. 

If you are not offered a place at one of your preferred schools

If we are unable to offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools, we will offer a place at an alternative school. This will be at the nearest school to your home address with an available place. 

Waiting lists

If we don’t offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools, we will add their name to the waiting list for that school in case a place becomes available. We will keep their name on the waiting list until 31^st December 2025. 

Appealing the decision

You have the right to appeal the decision if we do not offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools.

For full details of the admissions and appeal procedure, please click the link below:

www.norfolk.gov.uk/norfolkfirstadmissions

Admission arrangements for pupils with SEN or disabilities can be found in the SEND Information Report. 

Click on this link to access the report: