Admissions

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood is a Community School for boys and girls of all abilities from 4 – 11 years of age.  We are a three form entry school with a published admission number (PAN) of 90 children per year group. Leigh Academies Trust is the Admissions Authority of the Academy. Applications for places will be made in accordance with Kent County Council’s co-ordinated admissions scheme and timetable.

Admission to our school is determined in the first instance by parental preference, provided there are spaces available. In the event of our school being over-subscribed, places will be allocated by KCC in accordance with the following criteria, which are in order of priority:

• Children in Care and previously Looked After Children
• Sibling
• Children of Leigh Academy Paddock Wood Staff
• Health and Special Access Reasons
• Distance

The admission arrangements for children who have an Education Health & Care Plan (EHCP), or who will have one by 16 January 2023 are the responsibility of KCC. For advice on the arrangements to admit your child into school, please contact your local SEN Officer as the process you will need to use for a Primary school place will be different. Telephone: 03000 420997 Email: SENwest@kent.gov.uk

Applying for an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) place

KCC manage all primary admissions for EYFS, which is for all those children who will reach the age of 5 during the course of the academic year.  KCC produce a comprehensive online information booklet which will guide you through the application process and can be viewed online here.  If you have any general questions about admissions that have not been answered, please contact the KCC Contact Centre and ask to speak to a member of the Primary Admissions team on 03000 41 21 21 or email kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk.

KCC strongly encourage parents to apply online at www.kent.gov.uk/ola. Our DCSF number for your application is 886 2127. Parents are encouraged to express three preferences for a school place, putting them in order of preference with the one you would like most as first.

APPLY NOW INFORMATION BOOKLET

New users will need to register first, to generate a User ID and Password. This registration is not your application. Once registered you can use your ID and Password to submit and track your online application. An application is only valid if it has been submitted. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming that KCC have received it. If you would like some assistance with your application, please contact the School Office, on 01892 833654 or email info@paddockwood.latrust.org.uk

Even if you already have an older child at our school, you MUST apply for a place for your younger child. You will not automatically receive a place because you already have a sibling here.

When can I visit the school?

We welcome visits to our school. Please contact us via telephone or email admissions to arrange a tour. Our virtual tour is available in the meantime to give you a sense of Leigh Academy Paddock Wood.

Deferred entry to primary school

Parents have the right to start their child at school on a full time basis from the September following their 4th birthday, providing they have been allocated a school place. You also have the right to delay your child’s start date (known as deferred entry), until later in the school year, but not beyond the beginning of the term after they turn 5 and not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year in April. Your child may also start part time later in the school year, but not beyond the beginning of the term after they turn 5.

If you plan to defer your child’s start date until later in the school year, you must still apply at the usual time.

Summer-born children

Children born between 1 April and 31 August are sometimes referred to as summer born children. They have the same right to defer entry as any other child. This means they must start school at the beginning of the April term if they wish to keep their offer. Where parents wish for their summer born child to defer entry until the start of Year 1, they must refuse their offered place, which may be offered to a different child, and then reapply through the In Year process during the last month of EYFS year.

For your child to start EYFS in the following September, a full year after they were first entitled to start, you will need agreement from the school. This is because a new application for a later admissions round would be needed for your child to be considered for a place to be taught outside of their age group and with a younger group of children.  Leigh Academy Paddock Wood will make its decision taking into account our admission code and the advice of the Principal.

To request admission to EYFS outside of the normal age group, please contact us as early as possible during the application period. This will allow us and the admissions authority enough time to make a decision before the closing date.  Further information on deferred entry to school can be found by visiting

school age – starting school

In-Year Casual Admissions

Admission enquiries for any other year groups (In-Year Casual Admissions) are made directly to Leigh Academy Paddock Wood via this link.

Please be aware that there may not be available places in the year group you are applying for.

Prospective parents are very welcome to visit our school while it is in session to view us at work, meet the Principal, class teachers and the children. Please contact the School Office on 01892 833654, email info@paddockwood.latrust.org.uk, to make an appointment and to discuss the admission of your child in more detail. If we are unable to offer you a place, we will advise you how to appeal and how to put your child’s name on our waiting list.

We want to help you in any way we can through the admissions process so please do not hesitate to call.

We look forward to welcoming your child to our school.