Nursery Admissions

Laurel Avenue Community Primary School adheres to Durham County Council’s Admission Policy. Nursery places within the school are open to all children over the age of 3 living within the Authority. Children are eligible for places in the Nursery irrespective of whether they will be transferring into this school for the period of statutory education. Parents are entitled to put their children’s name on the nursery waiting list during the academic year, (September – August), in which their child will be 2 years old.

Admissions relate to the date of birth and position of the child on the waiting list. Exceptions may be made for Children in Need, Special Educational Needs and those where English is an Additional Language.

Special Educational Needs - Nursery

The Nursery has facilities to cater for children with special educational needs. Support is arranged through liaison with the LEA and Outreach Nursery Support providers.

Admissions Procedure

Parents can choose the following options when considering their children’s nursery provision.

• Five sessions offered across the week, every morning. No lunch provision is offered.
• Two and a half day sessions offered on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Children may bring their own packed lunch or purchase a school lunch.
•  Two and a half day session offered on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday. Children may bring their own packed lunch or purchase a school lunch.

Please obtain an admission form from the school office or download it here.

nursery application form

If any child does not take up their place at the beginning of the academic year or leaves throughout the course of the year, their place will be offered to the next child on the waiting list.

The Durham County Council online admission site at www.durham.gov.uk will open on September 12th 2018. Applications for admission to Reception for September 2019 and Secondary School for September 2019 must be received by the deadlines shown in the tables below.

If you do not have internet access please come into school and we can either help you to use a school computer to make your application or print you a paper copy of the brochure and application form.

Special Educational Needs - School

The Local Authority oversee all admission arrangements for our school including admission arrangements for children with SEN or disabilities.

If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.

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 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.

Reception Admissions

In the September prior to your child starting school you need to obtain a copy of the latest County Primary Education brochure explaining the admission process. Enclosed will be a copy of an AF1 form to express your preferences for your child's school.

how to apply for a school place

All applications need to be made online. The Local Authority will inform you of the school in which your child has been offered a place. Parents have the right to appeal against the decision. Appeals are heard by an independent panel and parents are given the opportunity to state their case in writing and to attend the hearing in person.

Timetable for applying for Primary School places. Dates change according to year - see above link 'How to Apply for A School Place' for specific dates.

Any parent/carer who is considering Laurel Avenue Community Primary School as a possible place for their child is warmly invited to visit school. Contact should be made with Gaynor Davison, Headteacher, so that an appointment can be made for a visit.

Admission limit for Reception is 15 .

Secondary School Admissions

Timetable for applying for Secondary School. Dates change according to year - see above link 'How to Apply for A School Place' for specific dates.

guide to applying for a secondary education plACE

Other Admissions

All other admissions are arranged by the Local Authority. You are welcome to visit the school and we will help you with the process of applying through The Admissions Team at County Hall on

0191 383 3000.

durham school admissions website

School Admission Policy and Guidance

Coordinated Admission Scheme - Primary Schools

Admissions Primary