Admissions
Starting in Reception
Children are usually admitted to school into the reception class in September of the school year during which they become five. All applications for admissions are arranged through Cheshire East Council’s Admissions Team. The deadline for September 2024 start is January 2024.
Further information on how to apply can be gained from Cheshire East:
Telephone: 0300 123 5012
Fax: 01270 686491
Email: admissions@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Online: http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schools/admissions/admissions.aspx
Starting school for the first time is a very important step for the both the child and the parent/carer. We feel it is important that you get to know us and the school. For this reason you are welcome and encouraged to visit our school before your child starts. Please contact school to make an appointment to meet a member of our team who will explain the school’s core values, aims and the way we operate on a day to day basis and give you a tour of the school during the school day.
In addition to the opportunity to look around the school, new reception parents are invited to a meeting during the summer term prior to children starting school. We will also come to visit you in your home so that your child can meet their new teacher on an informal basis. During the home visit the reception teacher will ask questions about your child and it will provide the ideal opportunity for you to ask questions too. Information is also sought from your child’s preschool or nursery setting.
Arrangements are made for your child to make pre-school visits in June/July to promote as smooth and trouble-free induction as possible. Reception parents are also invited to attend a 1:1 parent consultation meeting with the class teacher during the first half term to support the transition process.
For an appointment contact the school:-
Tel: 01270 698840
Email: admin@brierley.cheshire.sch.uk
Nursery Provision
Little Bears caters for children aged 3 and over, offering high quality affordable childcare. Your child may start as soon as they turn three. The Free Entitlement Funding begins the term after their third birthday.
Children are entitled to 15 hours per week free Nursery care, which we provide at Brierley as five sessions of 3 hours each. Our Nursery sessions are 8:40am to 11:40am and 12:20pm to 3:20pm and you may choose whether you would prefer morning or afternoon sessions for your child (availability permitting).
We are also able to offer placement for the other 17 ½ hours at a cost of £55.00 per week, if you would like your child to attend full-time at Nursery.
Little Bears are also taking part in the 30 hours per week free Nursery care scheme that is available to some working families.
You would be most welcome to visit for a look around our Little Bears Nursery provision, just call to arrange an appointment. Further details are provided in our Little Bears Prospectus.
In-Year Admissions
How to make an in-year admission
Parents/carers can apply for a place at Brierley at any point during the year. Cheshire East manage our initial admission requests. You may apply for a place by filling in an application form available online:
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schools/admissions/admissions.aspx
Sometimes children join the school when the Autumn Term has already started or later on in their school life. At Brierley we make every effort to make sure that new children are welcomed, looked after, and monitored so that they quickly make new friends and can easily find their way around school. We do this a number of ways depending on how much notification we get of their starting date.
Examples of induction include…
- One or two day visits prior to starting full time
- One or two class buddies assigned to supporting your child
- Arriving early on the first day
- Regular contact between parent and class teacher
This is an indication of what can be done, but we take each child and each situation into account to ensure that every child settles quickly and easily and will try to accommodate any suggestions you might have to help your child during transition.
Teachers will also give your child time to settle before making any formal assessments of their academic ability. However, assessment is important and together with records from your child’s previous school, it will allow your child to quickly make progress.
Leaving Brierley Primary School
Sometimes families leave our school for other parts of the town, country or world due to work or family commitments. If this happens, please advise the school as early as possible so that we can support the transfer process. This will ensure that all relevant material and documentation can be sent to your child’s new school in a timely manner which will help smooth the transition for them.
