N1-Y6 Admissions Policy

September 2024 

1 Introduction

1.1 The Co-operatives Academies Trust (CAT) is the Admission Authority and is therefore required to draft, consult on and determine their admission arrangements. Where there are more applicants than places available, the authority will apply the admission arrangements in order to decide which applicants will be offered places.

Admission arrangements for voluntary aided schools, foundation schools, free schools and academies are set by their Governing Body, who are the Admission Authority for their establishment.  They are responsible for drafting, consulting on and determining their admission arrangements.  Copies of admissions arrangements for these types of schools/academies in Manchester can be found on the school/academy website and the LA’s website.  They are also available on request from the relevant school/academy and the LA.

2 Aims and objectives

2.1 We are an inclusive school that welcomes children from all backgrounds and abilities.

2.2 All applications will be treated on merit and in a sensitive manner.

2.3 The only restriction we place on entry is that of number. If the number of children applying for entry exceeds the places available, we enforce the procedure set out below in order to determine whether a child is accepted or not.

● Children who are in Local Authority Care;

● Children for whom this school is more suitable because of the nature of their special need;

● Children who already have a brother or sister at Co-op Academy Medlock

● Proximity of the child’s home address to this school.

It is our wish to allow parents the right to have a place at the school of their choice. However, this is not always possible due to the excess demand on the school places available.

2.4 Children’s academic ability plays no part in the admissions policy of this school.

2.5 Where a child has an EHCP, it may be that the child’s needs necessitate specialist staff, specialist equipment and / or adaptations to the building. In such instances it is likely that a delay would be required before a place was formally offered in order to get the necessary adaptations in place. In extreme circumstances, if the specific needs of a child would require a significant financial commitment from the school that the school is not in a position to commit, the decision may be made that the school would be unable to accept a pupil as it would be to the detriment of pupils already on roll.

3 How parents can apply for their child to be admitted to our school

3.1 As our school is a community school, the school determines the admission arrangements for Nursery places in agreement with the LA. The LA is therefore the ‘Admissions Authority’ for our school. Parents who wish their child to have a place at our Nursery must complete an admissions form, available from the school office or website

(https://www.medlock.coopacademies.co.uk/admissions). The main intake to Nursery is in September, but children can join us later in the academic year if places are still

available. Places are allocated according to the procedure in 2.3. Please see the schools Early Years Admissions Policy for details on how this is administered.

3.2 In Manchester children enter Reception in the academic year they become five. At Co-op Academy Medlock there is one admissions date per year early in September (i.e. at the start of the school year). The LA publishes a composite admissions prospectus each year, which gives information about how parents can apply for a Reception class place in the school of their choice. Parents have a right to express a preference for the school of their choice and they should do so on the application form. Expressing a preference does not, in itself, guarantee a place at this school. Application forms for children already attending our Nursery will be sent out by the school. The LA will send application packs to the homes of children who do not attend our Nursery but have registered an interest in their child starting in Reception. All forms should be completed and returned to the LA by the date stipulated. Parents/carers may also complete the forms on-line (www.manchester.gov.uk/education/admissions)

4 Admission appeals

4.1 If the LA does not offer a child a place at this school, it is because to do so would prejudice the education of other children by allowing the numbers of children in the school to exceed the legal number of children in a class, usually 30.

4.2 If parents wish to appeal against a decision to refuse entry, they can do so by applying to the LA. An independent appeals panel then meets to consider all appeals by parents who have been refused a place at our school and who wish to appeal against this decision. An appeals panel’s decision is binding for all parties concerned. If the appeals panel decides that we should admit a child to our school, then we will accept this and continue to do all we can to provide the best education for all the children at our school. (Details of appeal arrangements are set out in the Code of Practice on School Admissions Appeals, which came into force in September 1999.)

5 The Planned Admission Number

5.1 The planned admission number is the number of children the school will admit into a Reception cohort. The PAN for our reception year group is 60. We keep this number under review and the governors will apply to change the number if circumstances allow.

6 Infant class size

6.1 We teach Key Stage 1 children (aged five to seven) in classes that have a maximum number of 30 children.

7 Review

7.1 This policy will be reviewed annually with the Admissions Authority in the light of any changed circumstances in our school or the local area.

Early Years Admissions Policy

Introduction

Co-op Academy Medlock has both a provision for 2 and 3 year olds (Nursery 1) as well as a traditional Nursery setting for 3 and 4 year olds (Nursery 2).

Nursery 1 offers 15 hours funded places as well as paid places.

Nursery 2 offers full-time education to all children invited to attend our Nursery. However, in order to sustain this we require parents to check their eligibility for funding of 30 hours childcare to be paid to the school. Any eligible parents must apply for the funding and provide an eligibility code to the school in the requested format. Parents are also required to renew this code as and when notified by HMRC and the school.

No child will be excluded based on not being eligible for funding.

Parents / Guardians can complete an application form for a place in either nursery 1 or 2 as soon as their child is born.

Submitting an application form does not guarantee a place for your child. Nursery 1

Nursery 1 is Co-op Academy Medlock’s provision for 2 and 3 year olds.

Children will be offered a place (usually the term after) their second birthday. Children can not access a place before they are two years old.

Admissions take place termly. In-year admissions are possible only when places are unfilled.

Funded places are available for 2 year olds who are eligible for 15 hours free funding (please see the Childcare Choices website to check your eligibility).

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 

All placement timings must match the session timing - morning sessions being 8.45 -11.45 am and afternoon sessions 12.30 to 3.30 pm. The 15 hours funding can not be used to cover wrap around care (time outside the session times). 

Evidence / Codes must be made available to prove eligibility. Failure to provide codes will result in the full charge for the place being made to families (see costs below). 

For those children who are not eligible for the free 2 year old funding, the cost for children to attend the provision is £175.00 per week (5 Sessions). This charge is maintained until they are able to access their entitlement to 15 hours when they turn 3. 

Children can either be part time (15 hours funded or paid) or full time (30 hours funded and paid or fully paid). Sessions run from 8.45 -11.45 am or 12.30 to 3.30 pm.

Flexible bookings (different time slots and different hours) can only be facilitated if pupil numbers allow this. 

Full time (30 hour) placements can only be offered if there are places available. The additional hours will be chargeable (£175.00 per week - 15 hours). 

Wrap around care is also available, the following charges apply £3.00 per half hour and £5.00 per hour. 

Hot food can be provided for all Nursery 1 pupils. Lunch cost £2.40 per day (£12.00 per week). Children may be eligible for free school meals from the age of 3 years old. The school office can help you to check to see if you are eligible. 

All payments should be in advance - see payment methods in the appendix. Nursery 2 

Our Nursery 

Medlock can accommodate 60 full time places. Depending on demand there will be either 45 or 60 fulltime places available for nursery age children (aged 3 & 4). This is decided prior to the September intake. All places begin in September but if spaces are available, a mid year start is possible. 

Entitlement to a Nursery Education 

All 3 and 4 year old children in England are entitled to a 15 hours free funded place per week. This is known as universal childcare. In addition, some 3 and 4 year old children may be eligible for a further 15 hours funding which is known as extended free childcare. 

Eligibility criteria for extra 15 hours extended childcare & how to apply 

You will be eligible for the extended free childcare if the criteria below is applicable to you: 

● both parents must be working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family), and each parent earns a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage or living wage, and less than £100,000 per year. ● working will include employed and self-employed persons. 

● in general families where one parent does not work (or neither parent works) will not be eligible for these additional hours. 

● both parents are employed but one or both parents are temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity or paternity leave. 

● both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on adoption leave. 

● both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay. 

● One parent is employed and one parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring or one parent is

employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits. 

If you think you meet the eligibility criteria please apply online: 

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare 

If you are eligible you will be given a code; this code must then be given to the school to reserve and retain your nursery place. You will need to re-register every 3 months and provide this unique code to the school every 3 months to maintain your nursery place. 

Failure to re-register and provide the unique code to the school may result in families being liable to be charged for their child’s nursery place (charged in line with the Non Manchester Resident charges below) or your nursery place being withdrawn. It usually takes 20 minutes to apply. You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days. 

The website is: www.gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-childcare (or just type into Google ‘apply for free childcare’ and the website will be listed). 

ADMISSIONS POLICY 

The responsibility for determining the admissions for nursery age children lies with the Co-op Academy Medlockl. 

These places are available to Manchester residents based upon the definitions as detailed at the end of this policy. Proof of address will be required. 

We do not offer any part time nursery places. 

An offer of a Nursery place will be subject to the family attending an initial parents meeting at the school and also Nursery staff conducting a home visit. 

You will be required to share your employment circumstances and complete any 

application forms enabling the school to receive funding. Failure to comply with this will mean that we may withdraw our offer of a place. 

ADMISSION CRITERIA 

The Governors use the following criteria when prioritising applications:- 

1. Looked after Children. 

2. Children with a sibling who will be attending the school at the time of admission. 

3. Children living closest to the school (distance is measured in a straight line from the home address to the centre of the school.) 

4. Manchester residents who live outside the school’s area 

5. Non-Manchester residents (fees will apply).

APPLYING FOR A PLACE IN THE NURSERY 

Parents can put their child’s name on the waiting list for Nursery by completing the relevant form at the School Office. Being placed on the waiting list does not guarantee a place in the Nursery. Places will be allocated using the admission criteria detailed in this policy. Please note that places are not offered on a first come first served basis. 

Attendance in the Nursery does not guarantee a place in the Reception class. Parent’s must apply for Reception places to Manchester City Council - inline with the attendance policy. Staff will support families to successfully complete this process in a line with the deadline. 

Once offered a place a meeting will be held in order for all paperwork to be completed. 

Appendix 

MANCHESTER RESIDENT 

A Manchester resident is determined by postcode and the Council that the property of residence is aligned to. For example; M40 and M9 residents pay their council tax to Manchester City Council which means they are Manchester Residents*. A resident of M24 or M25 is aligned to Rochdale and Bury Councils as this is where council tax payments are made. As such residents in these areas are not Manchester Residents. 

NON MANCHESTER RESIDENTS 

You may be offered a full time place, subject to availability, if your child has a sibling in our main school. 15 hours will be funded by Universal Free Child Care and the additional 15 hours childcare will be funded by the family at a cost of £7.50 per session. 

PAYMENT METHODS 

Invoices for payment of Nursery 1 or the additional 15 hours childcare for non Manchester residents will be issued monthly, in advance. The first month’s payment will be due immediately. Payments can only be made by BACS or ParentPay. We can issue a PayPoint barcode if you need to pay by cash. 

The Headteacher and Governing Body reserve the right to amend the frequency of invoicing. If a child is absent, refunds or reductions are not available. (Nursery costs do not reduce if your child is absent). 

To see if you can claim any help with your childcare costs see 

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 

PAYMENT ARREARS

Any invoices not paid will become nursery fee arrears. Failure to pay arrears within 2 weeks will result in the child’s additional sessions at the Nursery being withdrawn. 

You may however be eligible to claim for the further 15 hours extended free child care as detailed earlier. 

Please see the above and also log onto 

Get Tax-Free Childcare: step by step - GOV.UK