Children normally start primary school in the September of the year they are four years old. This year is their Reception Year. It introduces children to behaviors and learning in a school environment. This helps them prepare successfully for school life.

The process to apply for a place in reception class begins when your child is three years old. If your child was born between September 1 and August 31 three years before the year we are in you need to make an application for a school place for them.

Applications open on September 1 and close on January 15 each year.

There is an online system to make your application.

Hackney Education's School Admissions Handbook includes:

• step by step instructions to making your application online.
• explains how schools decide how places are offered (prioritised)

Do children with SEND follow the same process to apply for school places?

Yes. Most children with SEND will follow the same general primary application and admissions process.

If you have any concerns about your child's development or learning you can discuss these with the class teacher or school SENCo.

However, the school admissions process is different for children who already have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan). Information about this process is linked to at the top of this page and in the related articles section.

Most children with SEND will go to a local mainstream school. We strongly advise that you do visit the schools you are considering sending your child to. Speak with staff and parents who’s children are already attending.

You can find a list of primary schools in Hackney here. 

Hackney SENDIAGS have a produced guidance for parents of children with SEND on what to look for when visiting schools (PDF). 

All schools MUST publish and up to date School SEN Information Report on their school website. These are a description of the specific support the school offers it's pupils who have SEN. MUST means that it is the law. 

All schools have a SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) who oversees support for children who need extra help. You can ask to talk with the school’s SENCO about any concerns you may have before deciding which school is right for your child.

The law says all schools must provide support for a child or young person if they have SEND (special educational needs and or disabilities).

This is the government definition given in the SEND Code of Practice 2014/15
Children and young people are considered to have SEND if they have either:

• A significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age
• A disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age.

To help understand what support schools are expected to give to children with additional needs read the following articles:

• What is a school SEN information report?
• SEN support in mainstream schools
• Hackney's SEN Funding for mainstream schools
• Hackney's Graduated Response schools guidance (PDF 846KB)

Evidence shows that disadvantaged children generally face additional challenges in reaching their potential at school and often do not perform as well as other pupils. Pupil premium is funding to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in schools in England. 

Some children will be able to receive Pupil Benefits. Examples of these are free school meals (FSM) and help with the cost of travel to school.

If your child goes to a primary school and meets the eligibility criteria for free school meals their school can claim funding to help them with their learning.

The funding is called Pupil Premium and comes from the Department for Education. Find out more about Pupil Benefits on the Hackney Education website

You can ask for your child to be considered as a priority for a place at a particular school on medical or social grounds.

To make this request you must tick the social and or medical “priority” box on the application form.

You must also provide a letter explaining why you feel your child can only attend the particular school you are applying for.

If appropriate the letter can include your medical needs (as a parent or carer) to show that this has created a social need for your child and is the reason they need to attend a particular school.

A “priority” application must be supported by independent, professional evidence such as letters from either:

• a GP
• hospital consultant
• social worker or
• other agency professional involved with your case

This supporting evidence must explain in detail the circumstances that means your child needs to attend the particular school you are applying for.

You must submit your letter and evidence by the admissions closing date of January 15 in the year you are applying

Very few children are given priority places under this criteria.

Cases made only on the basis of a child having SEN will not be agreed unless they are associated with other circumstances that have resulted in a child only being able to attend the particular school in question.

You will find out if your child has been given a social or medical priority place on National Offer Day e.g. April 17 for 2023.

The Schools Admissions Team can give you some information about the reason for the decision after National Offer Day. It is a very busy time of year for this team as lots of parents will be contacting them. 

If you have not been given a place at the school you wanted and you feel that there are exceptional reasons why your child can only attend that particular school, you can make an appeal against the decision.

• You will be advised about the process to appeal in your offer letter sent on national offer day.
• You must complete and send an appeals form to Hackney Education's School Admissions Service.
• You will be invited to attend an appeals hearing to present your case to an independent panel.

Find out more about making a school appeal for a place at a Hackney School here. 

If you are so unhappy with a decsion about the school place for your child that you want to make an appeal do get specialist advice and help.

There are organisations who can provide help and support to parents and carers who are making a school appeals. These include:

• Advisory Centre for Education – School Appeals
• Corram Children’s Legal Centre – School Appeals
• Hackney SENDIAGS (specialist SEND appeals advice)
• Global mediation (specialist SEND appeals advice)

Parent who have children with SEND who have an EHC Plan and  need to make an appeal about a school place have a separate SEND tribunal process to follow. This is because these cases are more specific and complex. 

All local authorities MUST provide a free impartial SEND Information Advice and Support Service.

Hackney SENDIAGS provides impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with SEND in Hackney.

SENDIAGS can:

• help you explore your options
• resolve disagreements with schools
• provide support and information
• support you if you need to make a complaint

The service runs regular drop in advice sessions. You can also make appointments to speak to an advisor. The service also has useful factsheets, guides and videos available on their website. 

One of these factsheets is on who can provide specilaist leagl advice for parents of children with SEND (PDF). 

Web www.hackneysendiags.co.uk

Email sendiags@hackney.gov.uk

Phone 020 7275 6036 (Advice Line)