Admissions

Firstly, thank you for considering Okehampton Primary School for your child; we look forward to welcoming you to our school.

All of the information that you need can be found in our Admissions Policy, which can be found on our Policies page.

All applications are managed by Devon County Council and you can find out more information at www.devon.gov.uk/admissions. 

 

Starting School in Reception

Most children join us in Reception at the start of the school year in September. You can apply for a place through Devon County Council.

Parents of Reception-age children have several options:

• Full-time start in September (the default offer)
• Part-time attendance until your child reaches statutory school age (the term after their fifth birthday)
• Deferred start within the same academic year
• Delayed admission (for summer-born children) to the following September, with a new application required

We encourage you to speak with us if you're considering any of these options.

 

In-Year Admissions

If your child needs a place in another year group, you can apply for an in-year admission through Devon County Council using the same online portal at any point throughout the year.

 

Key Application Dates for Devon Residents

• Secondary school applications: Open 1 September, close 31 October
• Primary school applications: Open 15 November, close 15 January

Apply online at: www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline

If you live in another local authority (e.g. Cornwall, Dorset, Plymouth, Somerset, or Torbay), you should apply through your own council. The closing dates are the same nationally.

Admissions Appeals Timetable 2025

Appeals at the normal round of admissions will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals on 31 May 2025. Where the application was not made in time for a decision to be made on 16 April 2025, they will be heard within that 40-day period or, if that is not possible, within 30 days of the appeal being lodged. In-year admission appeals must be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged. 

Appeals at the normal round of admissions will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals on 31 March 2025. Where the application was not made in time for a decision to be made on 1 March 2024, they will be heard within that 40-day period or, if that is not possible, within 30 days of the appeal being lodged. In-year admission appeals must be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.  

For Post 16, appeals will be heard within the same 40-day period; where a place would have been conditional upon exam results, appeals must be heard within 30 school days of confirmation of those results. 

 

NURSERY ADMISSIONS

At Okehampton Primary School and Foundation Unit, we welcome children from the age of 2 to 11 years old. Our Nursery forms a key part of our Foundation Stage Unit, organised to provide a seamless environment for children from 2 to 5 years old, right through to the end of their first year of primary school.

​Our approach recognises the very best practice in Early Years education, ensuring a safe, happy and secure environment for children to develop and grow. Our curriculum is planned completely through play. Children move through the Foundation Stage at their own pace with Reception children getting support, if needed, at an earlier level and pre-school age children progressing through to later stages if they are ready. Continuity and progression are ensured.

​Our Foundation Stage Unit is fully supported by our wonderful team of Foundation Stage Practitioners. All our practitioners are highly qualified and experienced and will support and work with your child throughout the whole period in the Foundation Stage. 

Funding from the term after their 3rd birthday, all children are entitled to 15 hours a week free, funded education.

For eligible families, 2 year old funding (known as 2gether funding) is available for children from the term after their 2nd birthday for up to 15 hours per week. 2gether Funding entitles up to 15 hours of free childcare and early learning each week to some two-year-olds in Devon. The scheme helps to improve children’s learning and development, gives them the opportunity to make new friends, learn through play and have lots of fun. Your child is eligible if your family is receiving certain benefits, has a household income under the specified amount, or if your child has a disability, special educational need, is adopted or placed under a residency order.

Funded childcare for 2-year-olds

Please note some children will be eligible for two-year funding and these parents may receive a Golden Ticket. Those that do not have a Golden Ticket can check their eligibility through the Citizens 

 https://oneonline.devon.gov.uk/CCSCitizenPortal_LIVE/en?ReturnUrl=%2FCCSCitizenPortal_LIVE%25%2020

Eligible families should now automatically receive a ‘Golden Ticket’ offer of funding. The Golden ticket is a voucher that entitles you to make a claim for the funded sessions through the school. If you receive a Golden Ticket, please bring it to school to discuss your options. If you think you might be eligible and have not received a Golden Ticket, it is always worth verifying your eligibility directly. For more information about the Golden Ticket and 2, 3, and 4 Year old funding, click here.

 How to apply

Apply online via the link or phone 0345 155 1013 with your National Insurance number, date of birth, name and child’s details. Parents and carers of children with additional needs, and foster and adoptive parents should discuss applying with either the child’s social worker or the 2gether Programme Manager, call 01392 385530.
​
The 2 Year Old Funding and Early Years Entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds, is funded by Devon County Council. We can, of course, offer additional chargeable sessions for you above your funded hours, including all day sessions. For children in the term after their 3rd birthday, this is chargeable at £4.08 per hour over their termly entitlement (£4.10 from 1st April 2020), and for children over 2 until the term after their 3rd birthday, this is chargeable at £4.90 per hour (£4.98 from 1st April 2020) over their termly entitlement, to reflect the legal requirement to have one adult to every four children in this age group. We do not add any other charges or costs to our fees.
We can accept Childcare Vouchers through your employer’s scheme as payment – please check with our school administrator for the  providers we are registered with.

 

For more information on Early Years Pupil Premium follow this link

https://www.devon.gov.uk/eycs/for-providers/business-finance-and-funding/early-years-pupil-premium/

 

For more information on 2 year old funding follow this link

https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/early-years-and-childcare/childcare/golden-tickets
​

For more information on 3 and 4 year old funding follow this link

https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/early-years-and-childcare/childcare/free-childcare-3-4-year-olds

Should you have any enquiries regarding nursery funding, applications or hours, please contact the trust central nursery department at nursery@dmatschools.org.uk 

 

Nursery Application form & Terms & Conditions

• nursery-application-form-updated-july-2024 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlinenursery-application-form-updated-july-2024
• terms-and-conditions-nursery-updated-002-pdf download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineterms-and-conditions-nursery-updated-002-pdf

 

 

School Admissions Policy 2027 - 2028: Annual Consultation