Admissions

Transforming Life Chances

We aim to do an excellent job every day, ensuring that children feel safe whilst making sure they have access to fun and engaging lessons which will motivate and challenge them.

We make every effort to ensure starting the nursery and reception classes is a welcoming experience for children and parents.  All our admission and transfer arrangements aim to give parents the best possible information so that we can establish and continue to develop the very important partnership between home and school.

At every stage of the admissions process we arrange opportunities for parents to talk to staff and also to receive written information. If anything is unclear we encourage parents to contact the school office. Our administrative staff are very happy to explain any aspect of admission to parents.

Read our Prospectus

Nursery Admission Form

Nursery

Part Time & 30 hour funding

Parents can apply directly to the school to have their child’s name put on the school’s waiting list. Children are admitted the term after third birthday, depending on places available.  There are 39 places in our morning nursery session (8.40am – 11.40am) and 39 in the afternoon session (12.25pm – 3.25pm). We have new intakes in September, January and April.

We now offer a limited amount of 30 hour funded places in our nursery (limited to 16 children at any time). This provision runs from 8.40am – 3.25pm Monday to Thursday and 8.40am-11.40am on Friday, children who wish to stay will 3.25pm on Friday afternoon will be charged £12.50 per week. Please speak to Mrs Randall in the school office regarding these placements. 

A meeting with the Nursery Teacher and arrangements for admitting pupils are explained to all parents once parents receive confirmation of a nursery place to ensure a happy and successful start.

Admission to the nursery does not secure a full time place in reception. Parents need to apply separately to Medway Council. Please see the information below regarding applications to the reception.

Full-Time

Places in full-time education in Reception are allocated and administered by the Admissions Department at Medway Council and not by the school. If you move into the area or apply after mid January in the year your children should have started school please contact Cedar Reception for admissions.

Reception

All pupils are now eligible to start reception in the September after their fourth birthday.

We admit 90 pupils (30 pupils per class) in September each year.

If your child is due to start Primary school in September 2023, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Monday, 17 April 2023).

You needed to submit your appeal before Tuesday 16 May  2023 for it to be considered by Thursday 18 July 2023. Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.

For late applications, appeals should be heard within 40 school days from the deadline for lodging appeals where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education

Casual Admissions

The casual admissions process will follow LA guidelines that aim to make a casual admission placement within 10 school days.

  • Parents can apply for a casual admission at any time during the school year.
  • If no places are available at the time of application, a waiting list will be maintained. Names are kept in priority order according to the oversubscription criteria and not according to how long a child’s name has been on the list.
  • Any place that becomes available will be offered to the child at the top of the list.
  • All vacancies will be allocated as they arise
Casual Admissions when transferring schools without moving home

If a parent wishes to transfer their child from another school without moving home, the Headteacher will contact the child’s current school to ascertain the situation so that our school is able to offer the correct support should the child be offered a place.

Appeals

Parents/carers have the right to appeal if a place is not offered to their child. Appeals will be handled in line with the School Admissions Appeals Code and the Governing Body’s policy on admission appeals.

Please contact office@cedarchildrensacademy.org.uk for further details regarding admissions. 

Parents/carers have the right to appeal if a place is not offered to their child.  Appeals will be handled in line with the School Admissions Appeals Code and the Governing Body’s policy on admission appeals.

You are asked to note that, if the appeal is for Year R, (or any other year in KS1) the school is bound by infant class legislation. This means that it is against the law to have more than 30 children in any one class and this number has been allocated according to the school’s over-subscription criteria. Consequently, there are only limited conditions under which an appeal may be upheld.

Admission Policy

Any objections should be made in writing to office@cedarchildrensacademy.org.uk

Note: General enquiries about admissions can be made by phoning Medway Council on 01634 331110 or by email: admissions@medway.gov.uk or write to Medway Council. Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR.  Prospective parents are very welcome to visit the school at any time and should contact the school office for a suitable appointment.

Admissions Policy 2022

Admissions Policy 2023