School Admissions

Admissions Policies

We are delighted that you are considering Fishburn Primary School for your child.

We welcome enquiries from prospective families and would be happy to arrange a visit to school. Please contact the school office on 01740 620162 or email fishburnadmin@edenacademytrust.co.uk if you would like to speak to us or arrange a visit.

Nursery Admissions

Our Nursery forms part of our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

For information about Nursery places and availability, please contact the school office. Our team will be happy to explain our Nursery admissions arrangements and answer any questions you may have.

Please note that attending Fishburn Nursery does not guarantee or give priority for a place in Reception. Parents and carers must make a separate application for a Reception place through Durham County Council.

Reception Admissions

Applications for Reception places at Fishburn Primary School are coordinated by Durham County Council.

Parents and carers must apply for a Reception place through the Local Authority's school admissions process by the published deadline.

Information about applying for a primary school place, including application dates, admissions arrangements and how places are allocated, is available through the Durham County Council School Admissions website.

Attending Fishburn Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at Fishburn Primary School.

Joining Fishburn During the School Year

Children sometimes join Fishburn after the beginning of Reception or during the school year. These are known as in-year admissions.

Applications for an in-year place should be made through Durham County Council in accordance with the Local Authority's admissions arrangements.

When a child is joining Fishburn, we work closely with the child, their family and, where appropriate, their previous school to support a positive transition.

We want every new child to feel welcomed, safe and part of our school community. Staff take time to get to know children and use information from families, previous settings and appropriate assessments to ensure that teaching and support are matched to their needs.

Admission Arrangements and Oversubscription

Fishburn Primary School follows the admission arrangements applicable to the school through Durham County Council.

Where there are more applications than places available, places are allocated in accordance with the published admissions and oversubscription criteria.

Parents and carers should refer to Durham County Council's current published admissions arrangements for full information about:

applying for a school place;
admission dates and deadlines;
oversubscription criteria;
in-year admissions;
waiting lists; and
admission appeals.

Durham County Council – School Admissions

Durham County Council – School Admission Appeals

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Children with an EHCP

Fishburn Primary School is an inclusive school. We are committed to ensuring that all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are welcomed, valued and supported to achieve their potential.

We work closely with children, parents and carers to understand individual needs and to ensure that appropriate provision and reasonable adjustments are in place. Where appropriate, we also work with external professionals and services to support children and their families.

Our SENDCo is Miss Hannah Robertson, who oversees SEND provision across the school and works closely with staff, families and other professionals. Parents and carers who would like to discuss their child's needs are encouraged to contact the school office to arrange a conversation with Miss Robertson.

Children with SEND are supported through high-quality, inclusive teaching and appropriate adaptations. Where children require additional or different provision, support is planned according to their individual needs and reviewed regularly through our graduated approach of Assess, Plan, Do and Review.

For children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the school works with families, the Local Authority and relevant professionals to ensure that provision is appropriately planned and reviewed.

We aim to ensure that children with SEND:

have full access to a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum;
are included in all aspects of school life wherever possible;
receive appropriate adaptations, interventions and specialist support according to their individual needs;
have their progress and provision regularly reviewed;
are involved in decisions about their learning and support in ways appropriate to their age and needs; and
benefit from strong partnership working between school, families and relevant professionals.

Further information about SEND provision at Fishburn can be found within the SEND and Inclusion section of our website, including our SEND Policy, SEND Information Report and information about Durham's Local Offer.

If your child has SEND or an EHCP and you are considering Fishburn Primary School, we encourage you to contact us so that we can discuss your child's individual needs and how we can support a successful transition into school.

Moving on to Secondary School

We work closely with local secondary schools to support children as they prepare to leave Fishburn at the end of Year 6.

A number of our pupils transfer to Sedgefield Community College, alongside other secondary schools chosen by families.

During Year 6, transition opportunities help children prepare for the move to secondary education. Where a child may benefit from additional transition support, including children with SEND or other vulnerabilities, we work with families and the receiving secondary school to plan this appropriately.

Applications for secondary school places are made through Durham County Council.

Further Information

For current information and to make an application, please visit:

Durham County Council – School Admissions
www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions

For information about appealing an admission decision:

Durham County Council – School Admission Appeals
www.durham.gov.uk/schoolappeals

If you would like to discuss Fishburn Primary School before applying, please contact:

Fishburn Primary School
Telephone: 01740 620162
Email: fishburnadmin@edenacademytrust.co.uk

We would be very happy to welcome you to Fishburn and show you around our school.