Admissions and New Starters
Parents requesting entry to Woodham Burn Community Primary School for their child may do so by contacting the Local Authority.
You can do this via the following link: https://www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions or contacting Durham County Council School Admissions, Tel 03000 265 896, or in writing at School Places and Admissions, Children and Young People's Services, County Hall, Durham, County Durham, United Kingdom, DH1 5UJ.
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IMPORTANT DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR PLACES IN RECEPTION - 15th January 2025
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Appropriate entry forms in accordance with the admission policy of the LA will then be completed by the parent and returned online in accordance with LA policy.
Parents are welcome to visit the school during the school day, prior to their child’s admission. It is necessary to contact the school office.
Nursery
Below is a link for parents to apply for 2-year funding now called play and learn funding. It can be used in our nursery from the day of the child's 3rd. birthday (known as a rising 3-year placement). If parent/parents are not eligible for this, they receive will their child's 15 hours funding, the term after their child's 3rd birthday.
A parent can check eligibility through the Parent Portal here: https://education.durham.gov.uk/SynergyWeb/Parents/default.aspx
Once an account is created and child's details have been added, the parent can carry out an EY check – the system will let the parent know immediately whether or not their child is eligible.
Below is the link for parents to follow if they think they may be eligible for 30-hour childcare.
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Applying for a school place if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan
Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (or Statement of Special Education Needs) follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school. Please continue to complete Durham County Council’s parental preference form, as part of the admission process to a new school. You continue to have a right to request a particular school and this will be considered alongside the information that we have about your child’s special educational needs. The information would have been provided as part of the Education, Health and Care assessment or following the review meeting.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
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Appeals Guidance for School
If the school receives more applications from parents/carers than it has places available, not every child can be successful in securing a school place. The Trust will use its admissions criteria, also known as oversubscription criteria, to decide which children to allocate places to.
Parents/carers have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel if they are dissatisfied with an admissions decision of the Trust. The appeal panel will be independent of the Trust. The arrangements for appeals will be in line with the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department for Education. The decision of the panel is binding on all parties.
Parents can only appeal once for any academic year unless there has been a change in circumstances relevant to the application.
September 2025 entry
Appeals for children refused a place at a preferred school for admission to Reception class in September 2025 will be heard according to the following statutory timescales:
Offer Appeals lodged by Appeals heard by
16/04/2025 by 20 May 2025 within 40 school days
after 20 May 2025 within 30 school days
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What happens after primary school offer day on Wednesday 16 April 2025
Durham County Council Appeal against the offer of a school place - Durham County Council
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Transferring from another school
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If you would like your child to transfer to Vane Road from another school, please contact Durham Local Authority Admissions Department first (03000 265 896). They will be able to tell you whether or not we have places available in your child's year group.
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If we do, the best advice is to make an appointment to visit the school either with or without your child. You will have the opportunity to meet a senior member of staff, discuss your child's needs and have a look around the school.
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You will need to fill in the 'In Year Transfer form' from Durham County Council which is a formal application for a place at Woodham Burn.
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Once a formal offer of a place has been made by the Local Authority final arrangements for a start date will be made. At Woodham Burn we feel that it is preferable for a child to start on a natural break in school time, for example at the beginning of a new half term or new week.
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Lingfield Trust Admissions Policies can be found here.