A child would typically move to Primary School in the September of the school year where they will turn 5 between the 1st September and the 31st August of that school year.
Some parents, where their child is born in the summer term, may decide to defer their child's start to school. For further information please view School Admissions Applications.
All children are required by law to be receiving a good quality education from when they reach compulsory school age, the term after they turn 5 years old. For further information please view School Starting Age - gov.uk.
What transition support is available to everyone?
A list of the Primary Schools available in Wolverhampton can be found here Primary schools. For further information about schools, we would recommend visiting school websites and social media.
Starting Primary School is a big step in the child's life so each school will have their own transition arrangements which may include home visits, settling in sessions, inductions and sharing information between parents and the setting.
If you wish to visit any school with your child, you can contact the school directly to request an appointment - this will give you the opportunity to look around and ask any questions.
When considering a suitable school for the child, it will be helpful to understand:
- The admissions criteria for the school, including the over subscription criteria
- Distance and transport/travel to school
- When making the application for a school place, parents/carers must specify more than one preference of school because, if the first choice is oversubscribed, the local authority will allocate to the nearest local school
To get a place at a Primary School, parents/carers must submit an application to the Local Authority via the Parents Portal. The Local Authority Admissions team co-ordinate the school places for all children starting Primary School unless they have a finalised Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). For these children, school places are co-ordinated by SENSTART. For further information please view SEND - Education, Health and Care Plans.
Parents/carers need to make a note of the closing date for these applications. These are normally between November to January before the child is due to start school in the following September.
On allocation day, usually March or April prior to the child starting school in September, parents/carers will be able to see the school that has been allocated by logging into the parent portal. Following this day, the allocated school will contact parents/carers to request further information so that they can plan a suitable transition for the child.
Important information for parents to share with the setting might include:
- Does your child have a health conditions?
- What are your child's eating habits?
- Does your child have a consistent sleep routine?
- What works for your child when they are upset?
- What support does your child need with toileting?
- Are you or your child receiving support from other professionals (such as health visitor, GP)
- How does your child communicate? What language is spoken at home?
- Has your child had experience of mixing with other children?
- What experience has your child had from being away from yourself?
The local authority co-ordinates the use of the Early Years Transition Form to support early years providers in sharing relevant information with the allocated school to support a positive transition.
School staff understand the importance of transition and will want to work together in partnership with parents/carers, previous early years providers as well as other professionals to ensure this is positive for the child.A list of the Primary Schools available in Wolverhampton can be found here Primary schools. For further information about schools, we would recommend visiting school websites and social media.
What if more transition support is needed?
Where parents/carers feel that their child would benefit from more support than what is offered for all children, we encourage you to discuss your views with your child's current early years provider and their allocated school.
If your child does not already attend an early years provider and you have concerns, please contact your allocated school directly.
The allocated school should arrange a meeting with the child, parents/carers, current setting if there is one as well as any relevant professionals such as health visitors or strengthening families’ advisor.
Early Years providers should complete the Early Years Transition Form. This will allow Primary Schools to identify children that may need additional support with transition. Settings should work together alongside parents/carers to plan a more individualised transition.
What if even more transition support is needed?
Where a child is being supported by an EHCP or by a team of professionals (such as a speech and language therapist (SALT), the Special Needs Early Years (SNEYS) service, a paediatrician, consultant or social worker) a specialist transition will be needed to best support the child and their family. A multi-agency meeting would need to be arranged so that parents/carers and all supporting professionals are clear about what support the child will need to make a smooth transition into the setting.
If parents/carers are not sure whether their child needs a specialist transition, please talk to the current setting or any of the professionals that support the child or family and they will be able to advise.