As a community school, we follow the admissions procedures of Hertfordshire Education Authority for both in-year admissions (at a time other than September of the academic year in which the child is 5) and admissions into Reception.

Before applying for a place, we recommend that you visit us to see for yourselves. We welcome visits to the school and an appointment can be made by phoning or emailing the office.   In-year admissions are subject to availability of places.

Starting School

This can be an anxious time for both you and your child and we take pride in the way that our new children settle into school.

Generally, children start the Reception class in the year in which they reach their fifth birthday. There is a phased entry to Reception, with children attending initially until lunchtime, then until after lunchtime. Full attendance is usually achieved by the beginning of the third week. Children may start full-time from the beginning of September if parents desire it.

Parents, whose children are starting school in the Reception year, are invited to attend a transition morning in July to meet some of their fellow parents and to help them feel part of the Windermere community.  Our new pupils will have an opportunity to visit during this time so that they begin to recognise people and get to know some of the classroom, with a further option to visit on the afternoon of the September INSET day.  The Reception class teacher and SENCo (Special Educaitonal Needs Co-ordinator) also contact nurseries and pre-school settings to discuss pupils’ needs.  In addition, parents are invited to come and meet with the class teacher and SENCo to discuss their individual child.