School Admissions

Our school is an academy within Tudhoe Learning Trust. The Trust is the Admissions Authority for all schools within the Trust and has determined to operate admissions on the same basis as that used by Durham Local Authority.

South Hetton Primary operates within an equal preference scheme and welcomes all children.

Applications Procedure

Nursery Admissions

Please visit the following page for more information with regards to nursery admissions and applying for your nursery place.  Nursery and pre-school education – Durham County Council

Primary Admissions

Application for a primary place:

Primary school places – Durham County Council

Admission arrangements:

School admission arrangements – Durham County Council

How primary school places are offered:

How primary school places are offered – Durham County Council

In year transfer application process:

Apply to change school during the school year – Durham County Council

Appeals process guidance:

Appeal against the offer of a school place – Durham County Council

Appeal rules and timescales:

Appeals Rules For Community, Voluntary Controlled Schools and Academies (NON FAITH) (durham.gov.uk)

How primary school places are offered – Durham County Council

Delayed and Deferred Entry:

Delayed and Deferred Entry to School – Durham County Council

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Here at South Hetton Primary School we take pride in being very inclusive and we will endeavour to provide support to every individual. Normal admission procedures apply, however, where a Special Educational Need, Disability or Looked After Child is identified, the school would work with parents/carers and other agencies involved to ensure that appropriate provision could be provided.

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

Arrangements For The Admission Of Pupils With Disabilities

The admission of pupils with disabilities is considered in the first instance in the same way as non-disabled pupils.  Further considerations are made in the light of need and accessibility and the school would work with parents/carers and other agencies involved to ensure that appropriate provision could be provided.  It is the school policy to accommodate pupils with disabilities should parents wish and individual needs are planned for to prevent any pupils with disabilities being treated less favourably than other pupils.

In practice, we ensure that classroom and extra curricular activities encourage the participation of all pupils, including those categorised as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.  Staff organise human and physical resources within the school to increase access to learning and participation by all pupils.

Existing facilities provided to assist access to the school by pupils with disabilities:

  • Wheelchair access onto school grounds via Frederick Terrace gate and staff car park has disabled parking bay and dropped kerb.
  • Wheelchair access into the school at all entrances, and all rooms.
  • Carpeted classrooms to aid hearing impaired pupils’ learning.
  • Exterior lighting to improve evening access.
  • Routes to the main entrance are clearly signed and free from obstructions
  • Disabled toilet
  • Single storey building

Further details on accessibility can be found in the Accessibility Plan on our Policies page.

Applying for a school place if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan or a Statement of SEN

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.

Early Years Foundation Stage Entry

All new Reception children are admitted annually into school in September. Transition arrangements begin in July each year with children having the opportunity to spend time in their new classroom with peers and staff; as well as to stay for a school lunch. Staff will focus transition work on settling children into their new environment and giving children the opportunity to get to know their class group in advance of the start of the academic year.

Looked After Children

Provision for Looked after Children is managed within the school in partnership with appropriate external agencies and the Virtual School Service. Outcomes for their provision can be linked to outcomes on their PEP plan and this is funded through the use of Pupil Premium expenditure.

Children who are ‘Looked After’ by the local authority (in care) are monitored and supported by the Headteacher, the designated safeguarding team, the SENCo and teaching staff. Provision, additional resources, teaching approaches and outcomes are assessed regularly to ensure that these vulnerable children are happy, feel safe and secure and are able to make progress.

http://www.countydurhamfamilies.info/kb5/durham/fsd/localoffer.page?localofferchannel=0
https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

Privacy Policy

We regard your privacy as important and any personal information you give to us will be used in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulations.

We do not store personal information about individuals who visit this site except where they provide contact information via our contact us page and contact forms available on various pages throughout the website.

Any information you provide will only be used for the reasons specified and it will not be shared with any third party without your consent, unless required by law.

Your contact details are kept securely and are only accessed by authorised members of staff as part of the provision of school services. If you do not wish us to keep this contact information please tell us.

This website uses Google Analytics which provides statistical data about the usage of the site. This information is not used to identify individuals, but is collected to provide us with an understanding of the areas of interest on our site and how our site is being used.

If you are connected to the internet you will have an IP Address. This may take the form of a figure, such as 333.333.22.1. The address will be automatically collected and logged as part of the connection of your computer to our web server and may be used to determine the total number of visits to each part of the site. This data is not collected and used for other purposes.

This website contains links to other websites. The School is not responsible for the privacy practices of other sites or organisations and recommends you consult the privacy information on those sites.

This policy will be reviewed and updated versions will be posted on the website.

If you have any questions about the use of your personal information, the Information Commissioner is the independent regulator for both Data Protection and Freedom of Information.