Primary School Admissions
Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent or carer for your child. The guidance on these pages is designed to help you to apply for a school place.
- If your child’s birthday falls between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 your child will start Reception at an infant or primary school in September 2025
You must make an application for your child’s school place as there is no automatic transfer from either nursery school to infant or primary school (Reception intake).
The closing date to apply for a primary school place for September 2025 is midnight on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
Apply now for a primary school place for reception class in September 2025 .
Apply to Change Schools During the School Year
If you wish to apply for a school place during the school year for a child in reception year or above because you are moving house or for any other reason, please visit Durham County Council’s primary school admission page to apply for a mid-year school transfer. Durham County Council Admissions, Appeals and Transport Entitlement Team deal with school transfer requests in order of receipt. It can take up to ten school days from the date of receipt for the process to start, however during peak times it may take slightly longer. Please allow ten school days before chasing up your application. ‘School days’ do not include weekends, bank holidays or school holidays.
You will be notified from Durham County Council as to the outcome of your application. If a place can be offered you will be advised of a date by which you must take up the place. It is also recommended that you contact the school for further details of your child’s admission. If a place cannot be offered you will be advised of your right both to appeal and to place your child’s name on the waiting list for your preferred school.
For further information about appeals please visit Durham County Council.
Visit the Durham County Council website for information regarding Primary School Admission Arrangements
Applying for a Nursery Place
Early Years Provision
All three and four-year-olds are currently entitled to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. It can last for up to two years or until your child reaches statutory school age. Some two year-olds are also entitled to access this provision and for eligible parents/carers a further 15 hours free entitlement can be accessed . The guide below will provide you with the information you need to access free entitlement to early years provision for your child.
You can add your child’s name to our waiting list in the term of your child’s second birthday or anytime after. To apply for a nursery place at Willington Primary School please complete an NA1 application form and return to school or e-mail the completed form to willington@durhamlearning.net. On receipt of your application you will receive confirmation from us that your child has been added to our list for 15 hours entitlement.
Your child will be offered a place in accordance with Durham County Council’s Admission Arrangements. Our usual intake is in September but we may be able to offer a place in the term after your child is three.
Free Play and Learn for 2 Year Olds
What is ‘free play and learn’ for 2 year olds
It’s free childcare for 2 year olds, to ‘play and learn’ at a local nursery. If you are eligible, your child could receive 15 hours a week – term time only.
You can apply for a place if you receive one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit – if you and your partner have a combined income from work of less than £15,400 a year after tax
- Tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Support through part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Is my child eligible for a free place?
Your child will also qualify if they:
- are looked after by the council
- have a current statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- they get Disability Living Allowance
- have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
When could my child start?
If you qualify for free childcare, your child could take up their ‘play and learn’ sessions, the term after their second birthday.
When does my child qualify?
- Child born between 1 April – 31 August: September term intake
- Child born between 1 September – 31 December: January term intake
- Child born between 1 January – 31 March: April term intake
How do I apply?
You can download an application form, or contact the Childcare Places Team for a paper copy on Tel: 03000 268 913 or 03000 268 914, email: childcare@durham.gov.uk.
If your child is eligible you will receive confirmation from the Childcare Places Team in the form of a Golden Ticket. Please forward confirmation of your ticket with an NA1 application form and return to school or e-mail the completed form to willington@durhamlearning.net. On receipt of your application you will receive confirmation from us that your child has been added to our list for free play and learn for 2 year olds. .
30 Hours Free Childcare
Is my child entitled to 30 hours free childcare?
Working parents/carers of 3 and 4 year olds may be eligible for a further 15 hours free childcare in addition to the existing free 15 hours early education entitlement, if you meet certain criteria. From 1st September 2017, we will be able to start to offer the 30 hours childcare for eligible parents/carers where we have the space to do so.
Parents/carers wishing to access the additional 15 hours from September will be required to make an application via the Childcare Choices website www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Eligibility Criteria
Parents of three and four year olds will need to meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for 30 hours free childcare:
- They earn or expect to earn the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage over the coming three months.
- This equates to £120 a week (or c.£6,000 a year) for each parent over 25 years old or£112.80 a week (or c.£5,800 a year) for each parent between 21 and 24 years old.
- This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on zero hours contract.
- The parent (and their partner where applicable) should be seeking the free childcare to enable them to work.
- Where one or both parents are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or if they are on statutory sick leave.
- Where one parent meets the income criteria and the other is unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work.
- Where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’ (i.e. they are newly self-employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months.
- If a non-EEA national, the parent must have recourse to public funds.
If you are eligible you will receive an eligibility code. Once you have received your code and you wish to access 30 hours please complete a Parent Carer Declaration Form and contact Mrs Walker (01388) 746414 option 1 to verify you application. As a school we are currently providing 30 hour placements of Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm (term time only).
Documents you need to present to us are your eligibility code, National Insurance number and documentary proof of your child’s date of birth (Birth Certificate or Passport).
Further information can be found on gov.uk website.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
In the SEN Provision section we have added information about our Local Offer including how we support, identify and assess children with SEN at Willington Primary School.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment
