Welcome to St. Mary's - let's get you started with an application!

St Mary’s Church of England Primary School follows the admissions policy set out by Southampton City Council which is the admissions authority for all Community and Voluntary Controlled schools.

The admissions policy for Community and Voluntary Controlled primary schools is set out below.

Nursery Applications

Free part-time places of 15 hours per week for two year olds and over are available subject to eligibility.

2 year olds

Your 2-year-old can get free early education and childcare if you live in England and get one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit - if you and your partner have a combined income from work of less than £15,400 a year after tax
• tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

If you are eligible, you will be given a 6 digit code, which you must take to the School office to verify along with your completed Nursery Admissions Form.

3-4 Year Olds

Free 15 Hours - Part-time Place

All children in England get 570 free hours per year. It's usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.  You can get it from the term after your child's third birthday.

30 Hours - Full-time Place

Extended free childcare - 30 hours for 3 and 4 year olds

From September 2017 the government has committed to doubling the amount of free childcare from 15 to 30 hours a week for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds.

A child is entitled to 30 hours childcare the term after their third birthday or from the term after their family becomes eligible. Parents will need to confirm that they remain eligible every three months. The eligibility criteria is set out below.

• The parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) should also be in qualifying paid work. The definition of qualifying paid work is each parent or the single parent in a lone parent household will need to expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage or their national minimum wage rate over the forthcoming quarter. This applies whether you are in paid employment, self employed or on zero hours contract.
• Where one or both parents are in receipt of benefits in connection with sickness or parenting, they are treated as though they are in paid work.
• Where one parent (in a couple household) is in receipt or could be entitled to be in receipt of specific benefits related to caring, incapacity for work or limited capability for work that they are treated as though they are in paid work.
• Where a parent is in a 'start up period' (i.e. they are newly self employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months in order to qualify for the extended entitlement.
• If either or both parents' income exceeds £100,000 they will not be eligible for the extended entitlement.

Please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for further information on childcare available to you.

Once you have registered for 30 Hour childcare, you will be given a code to bring into Nursery for  verification.

Please complete the attached form and return to the school office along with your verification code

Who should I speak to at the school?

Staff who will be able to help you with your application:

I've got a place for my child, what next?

All newly admitted children, and parents, are invited to the school to meet staff members. We will ask questions related to:

• Your child's general well being and health
• Your child's behaviours 
• Your child's history of need - perhaps social or emotional needs or special educational needs.

It is vital that you tell us the truth at these meetings and do not leave any information out. We have systems and processes to help our families and their children - but we cannot do this if we do not have the information necessary.

No child will have their place taken away if they have a special educational need. We celebrate and support our pupils really well at St. Mary's! Just let us know.

Home-School Agreement

The home-school agreement is a contract between the school, child and parent/carer that sets out the expectations we all have of one another. 

The home-school agreement is clear on our expectations related to:

• Attendance/Non-attendance
• Holidays in term time
• Expected behaviours on site at the school
• The school's obligations and promise to all parents.

At your admission meeting, we will all sign this document to demonstrate a commitment to supporting the school in its aims.

A copy of the Home-School Agreement is attached below.