Admissions Procedure

"Links with parents are excellent." ISI Report 2011

Hoe Bridge is a mixed ability co-educational school with non-selective entry to the Nursery and Reception at three and four years of age. General questions about a child’s health, developmental milestones, social skills and previous nursery/ playgroup experiences are answered when the children visit with their parents prior to entry.

Occasionally places become available in classes throughout the school. An informal assessment is made at this stage by the class or subject teachers, Director of Studies and Heads as appropriate. Selection is not specifically academic and children with a wide range of abilities will be considered, including those with special needs provided that admission is compatible with the dynamics and nature of the specific year group. The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) may be referred to in the admission procedure.

We aim to fulfil the children’s entitlement to a broad curriculum and enable all children to participate in the life and work of the school to the best of their abilities, whatever their needs.

Admissions Procedure

Admissions to school for children up to and including Year 3 are managed by the Pre-Prep secretary. Thereafter admissions are managed by the Prep secretary. All financial matters are handled by the Bursar’s department.

Initial Contact

parents phone to make an appointment to visit the school

School Visit

parents meet the Headmaster and Head of Pre-Prep and are given an individual tour of the school

Registration

parents complete a registration form paying a non-returnable fee of £25.00
children's names are added to our class lists at the correct year of entry in order of registration date
parents may request entry to Nursery or Reception (however admission is possible to any year providing there are available places)

Deposits

a deposit of £250 is paid by parents to secure the place. Parents are reimbursed in their child's last term at school. Deposits are not returned if the place is not taken up .

Entry to Twigs (Pre-Nursery rising 3 year olds)

children who have a guaranteed Nursery place (see below) may join Twigs in the Autumn, Spring or Summer term of their third birthday
the offer of a place will be made with their Nursery offer and parents inform us of the term in which they would like their child to join

Entry to Nursery (3 -4 years)

children join the Nursery in the September after their 3^rd birthday
the offer of a place is sent to parents in the Summer term one year before the child's entry to school
children visit the school in the June before their arrival date

Nursery Waiting List

children not offered a place for the Nursery will remain on the Waiting List and a place may be offered during the course of the year
siblings of children already in school will be given priority.
if a Nursery place is not offered the child may be offered a Reception place (see below)

Entry to Reception (4 - 5 years)

nursery children move automatically into our Reception classes
new Reception children are admitted each September and are integrated with our Nursery children to form 3 Reception classes of a maximum of 20 children per class
offers of places for the Reception year group are sent to parents in the Summer term one year before the child's entry to school
reception children are invited to visit the school for an afternoon in the October prior to their entry in the following September, an afternoon in May before the classes are set and for Move Round Day in June when they will meet their class teacher and classmates. (On the rare occasion that a child may be showing a learning or developmental delay, following agreement between the school and the parents the deposit may be returned).

Entry to the Pre-Prep Year 1 and 2 (5-7 years)

places are offered to children on our Waiting Lists as they arise
before an offer is finalised children are invited in for two days work/observation
following a successful visit the offer is confirmed

Entry to Prep from Pre-Prep (7+)

all Pre-Prep children have a place allocated for them in the Prep school. For a very small number of children with specific learning needs an alternative school may be recommended in discussion with the head teachers.
scholarships are available and are taken in the October prior to entry the following September
an additional deposit of £250 is paid in the October prior to entry the following September, bringing the total deposit to £500, and is reimbursed in the child's last term at school.

Entry to Prep (7+)

Entry to Year 3

places are offered to children on our Waiting Lists as they arise
before an offer is finalised children are invited in for two days of work/observation in the Pre-Prep
following a successful visit the offer is confirmed

Entry to Year 4 and above

places are offered according to availability and on completion of an assessment at the appropriate age level
following a successful assessment the offer is confirmed

Waiting List

children's names may remain on the Waiting List for any year group and places will be offered as they arise during the year. Priority is given to those with siblings already in school.

For further information please call Pre-Prep admissions on 01483 772 194 or Prep admissions on 01483 760 018.