Admissions

Admission Information

Please find below a copy of our admissions arrangements, explaining how we consider applications.

This includes information on:

Our oversubscription criteria, for when there are more applicants than places.
The guidelines parents need to follow when applying for their child to attend our school.

Applications for places in future Reception classes must be made online to the Local Authority

A supplementary form must be completed and returned to the school office if applying under church criteria. On average, we only have about five admissions under church criteria each year. In our school community many families have no faith commitment. We also have Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist families in school. We welcome everyone!

In 2024 we had ninety applications for 35 places (first, second and third choice) and after allocations of places we still had spaces available. Parents often tell us that they didn't apply because they thought they did not stand a chance of gaining a place- this is not the case!

Please visit us

Tours of the school can be arranged during September, October, November and January for parents applying for places for the following September. We are a very nurturing school that develops the whole child. This warmth and caring atmosphere cannot be felt through a website or through the school policies. Please visit us to see and feel it for yourself!

Policy for Admission September 2024

Policy for Admission September 2025

Application for places in Years 1 to Y6 and Reception Class after Christmas

Parents should call the school to see if we have an available pupil place. We are only able to admit up to 35 children per year group as then we are considered full.

If we have a place available and more than one child needs a place, we will apply the oversubscription criteria within the admission policy for that particular cohort of children.

Please complete the application form below and return it to the school having spoken to school office staff.

In year non-routine admission application form.docx

Applications for admission to Little Whittle- the school’s nursery

Please call the office to enquire about places 01257 262732 or email the office using office@whittle-le-woods.lancs.sch.uk

Appeals

Appeals are heard at Local Authority panels, usually at County Hall in Preston. Dates for these hearings are arranged by the local authority independent panels then parents and school are notified of the date when it has been agreed. This process is run by the LA on our behalf and follows all statutory guidance. Dates for appeal hearing of pupils applying for Reception class places can be found on the link below. This school is in the Chorley area. We await the updated Lancashire appeal hearings periods for 2024.

Preston/South Ribble/Chorley/West Lancs voluntary aided primary

24 June to 5 July 2024

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/appeal-against-an-admission-decision/

Visits to the school

We welcome visits to the school from prospective parents. Open sessions are organised for visitors to have a tour of the school by a member of the Senior Leadership Team, frequently the Headteacher, and this will provide opportunities for parents and carers to ask their questions while in a small group. The open sessions are carefully planned to fit around school events and busy times. They run from the beginning of September until the end of November, then again at the beginning of January before the application deadline. Parents/carers should ring the school office to book a tour.

If you wish to check if you live within the Parish of St John the Evangelist for admission under church criteria, please click here. The Parish Boundary is only relevant if you have fulfilled the church attendance criteria. It is not used for admission under any of the other criteria.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, tours of the school may be restricted. Please contact the school for further information.

Wrap around care

We run our own Breakfast (from 7:45am) and After School care clubs (until 6pm). staff who work in the clubs also work within the school during the school day and follow all the school policies. When our Y6 children no longer need sessions, these are reserved to ensure we have the capacity for our new entrants into Reception. We run clubs to capacity as there is a huge demand for this service within the school and sessions must be booked in advance. Waiting lists are held for pupils if parents request additional days or changes and give these out as they become available.

Little Whittle our Pre-School

Our pre-school opened in January 2020 and takes children from 3 years old. We aim to prepare pupils for primary school through a child centres practical curriculum. Please ring the school to arrange a visit.