Bessemer Grange Primary School

Our School Admissions

Admissions to Bessemer Primary follow the Southwark community schools criteria. This means that priority is given first of all to looked-after children, then to siblings of children who are currently attending the school, then to children with particular medical, social or psychological needs, then finally on distance from the school.

In Year Admissions

Admissions during the school year, or at the beginning of an academic year for Year 1 and above, can apply directly through the school, by collecting an application form from the school office, or completing one using the link below.

Alternatively paste this link into your browser https://forms.gle/cfCTr4xiX84s4Wiy8

For enrolment in any year group after the start of an academic year Parents/Carers must complete an application form. The school will then process the application and if there is availability will contact the Parents/Carers. Please allow up to 15 working days for a response. If a place is available Parents/Carers will be informed and the child can be enrolled at the school with immediate effect.

In the event that several applications are received at the same time and there are not enough spaces for all the applicants the following over subscription criteria will be applied

• Children in the care of the local authority (Looked After children) or who have previously been in Local Authority care.
• Children with siblings already attending the school, who will still be on role at the date of admission of the new pupil (Siblings refers to other children living in the family unit at the same address). This includes children who have a sibling who has been allocated a reception place, even if they have not yet started school.
• Children with exceptional medical, educational or social needs, where it is agreed by the Local Authority and the school that these can be best met at Bessemer, supported by current written evidence from an appropriate professional.
• Children for whom Bessemer is the closest school (measured as the crow flies from the main school gate).

Reception Admissions

If you are interested in joing Bessemer Primary at Reception age, you must apply through the Southwark Council procedure, putting our school as a preference.

Information regarding the Reception application process can be found on the Southwark Council website here.

Please note, if your child attends our Nursery, you must still apply for Reception through the council. Children are not automatically rolled up to Reception.

Nursery Admissions

What We Offer

Bessemer offers both full time and part time Nursery places for both funded and paid places (see below for 30 hour information).

All children are eligible for 15 hours free childcare when they turn 3 years old (plus one term). If Parents/Carers wish for their child to attend Nursery full-time they must pay for the additional hours.

The cost of Full Time Nursery at Bessemer Primary School is £28.00 per day. This cost includes childcare from 8:45am to 3:30pm and school lunch.

Applying

Children can join the waiting list for our nursery at any time, however they will only be considered for a place once they are aged 3 years plus one term.

Places are dependent on the current nursery cohort and the availability of spaces. If there is a space available and your child meets the required age conditions your child can start with immediate effect.

If you would like to add your child to the waiting list for a place at our Nursery you will need to complete the below application form. Once you have completed the application form, please allow up to 15 working days for a response. If you have any questions regarding the application process for Nursery please email the school office.

Alternatively paste this link into your browser https://forms.gle/BoMV3dG9mFoGsMbi7

Oversubscription Criteria

If the nursery is oversubscribed the following criteria will be used to allocate places

• Children in the care of the local authority (Looked After children) or who have previously been in Local Authority care.
• Children who are attending Bessemer’s ‘Little Stars’ at the time of application and are still attending at the time of transition Nursery.
• Children with siblings already attending the school, who will still be on role at the date of admission of the new pupil (Siblings refers to other children living in the family unit at the same address). This includes children who have a sibling who has been allocated a reception place, even if they have not yet started school.
• Children with exceptional medical, educational or social needs, where it is agreed by the Local Authority and the school that these can be best met at Bessemer Grange, supported by current written evidence from an appropriate professional.
• Children for whom Bessemer Grange is the closest nursery setting (measured as the crow flies from the main school gate).

Children who are not allocated a place in the nursery will be placed on a reserve list and may receive a place if one becomes available during the school year.

30 Hours Free Childcare Admissions

Bessemer Nursery accepts children of families who are eligible for 30 hours free childcare. Parents can check their eligibility using the Southwark’s local authority website here https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare?step-by-step-nav=f517cd57-3c18-4bb9-aa8b-1b907e279bf9

If parents are eligible, they will be given a code. This entitles parents to a free half-day Nursery session in addition to their statutory free 15 hours per week. We ask that the 15 free hours be used by attending a full day in Nursery.

30 hour eligible Nursery children are able to stay for lunch at Bessemer Primary School, however this does include an extra cost. There are 4 options for lunchtimes:

• Children who stay for lunch 5 days a week are given a hot meal at no cost, however, £3 is charged for lunchtime supervision. The total cost per week is £15.00.
• If parents wish to make their child a packed lunch, the £3 cost will still be applied for lunchtime supervision, if the child attends 5 days a week.
• Parents are also able to take their child home for lunch where no cost will be applied.
• Parents also have the option to bring their child 4 1/2 days a week. This means, at least once a week, the child should be collected before lunch begins, or dropped to school after lunch has finished. This option means there is no extra payment for lunchtime supervision, and the Nursery place is entirely free of charge.

To apply for a 30 hour place please complete the Nursery Application form on this page.