School Admissions
Going to a new school is a very important step for your child. At Laithes Primary we want to make the process of applying for a school place as easy as possible for all parents and carers.
You can apply online for your child’s admission but at the moment, online applications can only be made for children starting primary school for the first time or for secondary school.
If your child is already attending a school in Barnsley and you wish to transfer schools.
Detailed admissions, appeals and transfer information is available here.
Please contact school admissions if you have any questions
01226 773689 / 773677 / 773588 / 773502 or via email at [email protected]
Our school admissions policy can be found here ecm_admission_arrangements_2024-2025_laithes.docx
Laithes Admission Arrangements 2025-26
If your child was born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019, they’ll be ready for starting school in September 2023.
Before you apply for your child a place, please look at the information in the Barnsley booklet Admission to School - Academic Year 2023 - 2024 - Advice to Parents.
View the BMBC guide to applying on the parent portal.
If you are unable to apply online please contact school admissions and they can provide support and guidance. If you are still unable to complete an online application then we can supply a paper form however you will receive your offer by post and not via email on offer day.
Applying for a place
Parents/Carers will be able to apply on the School Admissions parent portal from the 1st of September for the following nursery rounds:
Spring 2024
Summer 2024
Autumn 2024
For any parent/carer wishing to apply for the current Autumn 2023 round please contact admissions.
Parents can apply the term after their child turns 2.
School Admissions will no longer be accepting paper application forms and as per the REC & SEC rounds we ask that if a parent is struggling to apply ask them to contact admissions on 01226 773677.
Summer born children
A child reaches compulsory school age on the prescribed day following their fifth birthday. The prescribed days are 31 December, 31 March and 31 August.
However, the School Admissions Code requires school admission authorities to provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday although there are alternative options for parents who do not feel their child is ready to start school before compulsory school date. You can read more information in the delayed admissions leaflet and arrangements for summer born children.
You can take a look at the government’s guidance for parents of summer born children, this is for parents who may be considering delaying their child’s start in reception. This guidance is intended to help you to make an informed decision about what would be right for your child. It explains the process for requesting admission outside of age group and sets out information on the options available to you and the steps you need to take to arrange a delayed admission for your child.
Additionally, children born in the Summer Term (1st April to 31st August) are not required to start school until a full year after the point at which they could have been admitted ie. the September following their fifth birthday; the point at which other children in their age range are commencing Year 1.
Parents of summer born children may, therefore, submit a request for delayed admission to Reception Year group, rather than year 1, for any school within the Authority. A decision must be taken by the relevant admission authority based on the circumstances of the case and in the child’s best interests.
Filling in your application if you live in Barnsley
You can include up to three schools on your application, which you should rank in order of your preference – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Your preferences can include any primary school in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield or Kirklees. If the school you prefer is outside Barnsley, it’s always best to get in touch with the council in that area to check what their admissions criteria are. Use these links to their admissions web pages for more information.
If you’re applying for a place at a voluntary aided school, you’ll need to complete the school’s supplementary information form and attach any documents they ask for. The form is available from primary schools or from School Admissions.
Once you’ve filled in your form stating your preferences, hand it in to your first preference school or send it to School Admissions. Make sure the school gives you a receipt for your application, which you need to keep.