Admissions
School Admissions
Starting School in 2026
If you have a child who is eligible to start school in September 2026, you will be in the process of choosing a preferred school for your child.
Choosing a school for your child is a very important decision and we fully appreciate the range of factors involved in selecting a preferred school. Schools can feel very different and as a parent or carer you are best placed to identify a school that will match the expectations you have for your child.
If you would like to enquire about sending your child to Heathwood Lower School, then please get in touch by calling the school office (01525 377096).We will be pleased to make an appointment to show you around our wonderful school.
At Heathwood Lower School, we adhere to Central Bedfordshire Council's Standard Admissions Policy for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools. Admissions arrangements which can be completed online at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/school/admissions/landing.aspx
Contact details for Central Bedfordshire Admissions:: Phone: 0300 300 8037 Email: admissions@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Standard Admission Policy
- All looked after children and all previously looked after children, including those children who appear to the Council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
- Children of Staff
- Children with siblings at the school.
- Children for whom the school is their nearest lower/primary school
- Any other children
In-year Admissions
For any admissions in year, please contact Central Bedfordshire Council.
Phone: 0300 300 8037 Email: admissions@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Admission into Reception Year
All admission authorities must provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. This means that where the school has offered a child a place, the following entitlements apply to the child:
a) The child can take up a full-time place in the September.
b) The child’s parents can defer the date their child is admitted to the school until later in the school year but not beyond the point they reach compulsory school age and not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year in which the offer was made (see below for more information on deferred entry).
c) The child can attend part time until later in the school year but not beyond the point at which they reach compulsory school age.
Children are not required to attend school until they reach compulsory school age.
Children born from 1 April to 31 August known as summer born children do not need to start school until the September after
their fifth birthday, a year after they could first have started school. Please see below for further information on this regarding the admission of summer born children.
Deferred Entry
Places offered in the Starting School admissions round are for children to start in the Reception class (Year R) prior to their child’s fifth birthday. Parents/carers can choose to defer their child’s entry to school or take up the place part time until they are of compulsory school age, providing this place is taken up within the same academic year.
Birthday between Term in which child is statutory school age and
therefore needs to be attending school full
| Birthday between | Term in which the child is statutory school age | Place can be deferred until |
| 1st Dec 2021-31st Dec 2021 | Spring Term (January Reception Year) | Spring Term |
| 1st Jan-31st Mar 2022 | Summer Term (April Reception Year) | Summer Term |
| 1st Apr-31st Aug 2022 | Autumn Term (September Year 1) | Summer Term |
Appeals
There is an appeals system for parents who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place for their child, the local authority manage this process and further information can be obtained at Appeals
Not happy with the school place your child has been offered?
By now, parents whose children are due to start school in the autumn will have been told by their local authorities which school they should be attending.
Most parents will be happy with the place their child has been allocated, but for those who are not, there are ways to challenge this through an appeal process.
Although we cannot investigate complaints about academies and free schools, we can, in certain circumstances, investigate complaints from parents if they are unhappy with the way the appeal was conducted for other school types. We have factsheets on our website about our role in the complaints process in the following areas:
Arrangements for the admission of pupils with disabilities
Heathwood Lower School is an inclusive school and we have experience of working with with pupils with a range of additional needs. Staff are appropriately trained to support children with their learning. There are ramps, handrails and additional resources available to support children with additional needs.
Parents of pupils with additional needs are encourage to visit school to discuss their child's needs with the school team.