Admissions
Admission Information
Parents wishing to send their children to Holy Rosary School or Nursery are invited to complete an "Initial Enquiry" form for their child as soon as possible. This form can be printed from the link on the school website or a hard copy collected from the school office and must be returned to the office. Parents will also be required to submit their child's birth and baptism certificates and a proof of address (current council tax bill). The Governing Body of the school has delegated responsibility to the Admissions Committee for determining and administering the policy relating to the admission of pupils.
Please be aware that proof of baptism and address MUST be provided by 15th January. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that this information is passed to us, as failing to provide this information to school will affect the category your child is placed in for admissions.
Admission to Nursery
Holy Rosary has a 52 place Nursery for children who have reached their third birthday. Children whose third birthday is on or before 31 August are usually admitted to the Nursery in the September. Children can be admitted to Nursery the term after their third birthday, if a place is available. The Admissions Committee meets to consider applications.
Once a place is offered, parents are invited to attend a meeting. At this meeting parents will be informed of the aims of the Nursery and time will be spent discussing the rationale on which good early years education is based. Children will attend the nursery for a visit prior to starting.
The names of children who are not offered a place will be put on a waiting list and a place will be offered if a vacancy becomes available.
Admission to Nursery will be made by the Governing Body, in accordance with the parental applications, subject to the following set of Admissions Criteria forming a priority order where there are more applications for admission than the Nursery has places available.
The Admissions Criteria is as follows:-
1. Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children.
2. Baptised Catholic children who have a sibling in the school at the time of admission.
3. Baptised Catholic children resident in the parishes of Holy Rosary and Most Holy Redeemer & St Kentigern.
4. Other baptised Catholic children.
5. Other children who have a sibling in the school at the time of admission.
6. Children from other Christian denominations. Proof of Baptism in the form of a Baptismal Certificate or confirmation in writing that the applicant is a member of their Faith community from an appropriate Minister of Religion is required.
7. Children of other faiths. An appropriate Faith Leader would need to confirm in writing that the applicant is a member of their faith group.
8. Other children.
Nursery education is non-statutory. Admissions to the Nursery will be at the discretion of the Governors, who will aim to give as many children as possible a minimum 3 terms education before they reach the age for mainstream education. Priority will be given to children due to start full-time education the following September.
A place in the Nursery does not automatically guarantee a place in the Reception Class.
Any medical and personal information will be treated as strictly confidential. It is expected that all children who are admitted will be toilet trained. However, if the skill of independent toileting has not been fully acquired and needs support, please inform the school prior to admission in order that provision can be made.
Admission to Reception
We welcome applications from parents wishing to send their children to our school. Admissions to Primary Schools are co-ordinated via the Local Authority (LA). Parents are therefore required to apply for a place in Reception for their child via their home Local Authority website or by completing a Local Authority Preference Form. A Supplementary Faith Form MUST also be completed for the school at this point. This is because we are a Voluntary Aided Primary School and have our own admissions committee. This form can be printed from the link on our website through the Admissions tab or collected from the school office. It MUST be returned to the office prior to 15th January. All preferences listed on the Local Authority Preference Form will be considered on an equal basis, with the following set of Admissions Criteria forming a priority order where there are more applications for admissions than the school has places available.
The Admission Criteria is as follows:-
1. Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children.
2. Baptised Catholic children who have a sibling in the school at the time of admission.
3. Baptised Catholic children resident in the parishes of Holy Rosary and Most Holy Redeemer & St Kentigern.
4. Other baptised Catholic children.
5. Other children who have a sibling in the school at the time of admission.
6. Children from other Christian denominations. Proof of Baptism in the form of a Baptismal Certificate or confirmation in writing that the applicant is a member of their Faith community from an appropriate Minister of Religion is required.
7. Children of other faiths. An appropriate Faith Leader would need to confirm in writing that the applicant is a member of their faith group.
8. Other children.
If it is not possible to offer places for all applications within any criteria above, then priority will be given to those living closest to the school measured by the shortest walking distance from the child’s home. We will measure from the property’s address point, to the nearest school gate (using recognised routes known to the Authority at the time of measurement). In the event of distances being the same for 2 or more applicants where this distance would be last place/s to be allocated, a random lottery will be carried out in a public place. All the names will be entered into a hat and the required number of names will be drawn out.
All children whose 4th birthday is on or before 31 August are admitted to school in the September. Once a place is offered, a meeting is arranged for parents of pupils due to start. At this meeting parents will be informed of the aims of the school and given some insight into the curriculum and organisation of the school day. Parents will also have the opportunity to discuss any matters concerning their children's future at Holy Rosary. Children who have not attended Holy Rosary Nursery will attend school for a visit prior to starting. During the visit the child will meet his/her teacher and familiarise themselves with the school environment. Transition for those pupils in our school Nursery will be arranged during their school day.
It should be noted that admission to Holy Rosary School does not guarantee a place on transfer to the designated local Catholic High School if you live outside the parish boundaries.
In-Year Admissions
Parents requesting a place for their child during the school year are asked to contact Sefton Council In-Year Team. Parents will be asked to complete a form which will be forwarded to the school if there are places available in the relevant year group.