School Admissions

Reception 2025

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If you have a child born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, they are eligible for a school place from September 2025. You will find key dates and important information in the Primary Admissions Booklet 2025. 

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It is the responsibility of parents to apply for a school place at the correct times. You will not receive any letters from Southend-on-Sea City Council to inform you that you must apply for your childs school place however, early years settings and general marketing is in place to ensure parents are alerted.

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Primary School Admissions to Reception and year 3 at an Infant, Junior or Primary School are received and processed for all schools in the city by the School Admissions Team, Southend-on-Sea City Council for all residents in the city. Admissions during the school year are called In-year admissions. Application forms and further details about in-year admission should be made by selecting in-year admissions on their website.

Primary School Admissions 2025/26

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For applications to reception or transfer to year 3 for September 2025 parents/carers can apply between 14 September 2024 and 15 January 2025. The online facility is no longer available, please contact the Admissions Team direct if you wish to make a late application.

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The national offer day for September 2025 Reception places is Wednesday 16th April 2025.

The Primary Admissions Booklet for 2025/2026 is published by Southend City Council and is available on their website.

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• Primary Admission Booklet

• Applying online

• Paper Application Form – this form can be obtained by emailing admissions@southend.gov.uk

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In-year Admissions

 

Applications for a school place, for children aged between 5 - 16 during the school year are referred to as in-year admissions.​​

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General Advice

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To apply for a place in our school for Reception Year, Year 1 or Year 2 please contact the School Admissions Team at Southend City Council.
The Admissions Team can advise of the availability of places across the city, you can email them at admissions@southend.gov.uk

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Schools admissions: applications for overseas children 

 

In most cases, children arriving from overseas have the right to attend schools in England.

It is the responsibility of parents to check that their children have a right, under their visa entry conditions, to study at a school.  To help parents we recommend that those wishing to apply for a state funded school place at Hamstel Infant School & Nursery check that they have a right of abode or the conditions of their visas otherwise permit access to a state-funded school. 

Foreign nationals cannot use the 6 month visitor visa or a 6 month short-term study visa to enter the UK to enrol as a pupil at a school. Find out what these visas can be used for on the UK Government website visitor visa and short term study visa pages.

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Appeals

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If your child’s school admission application is unsuccessful, you may wish to appeal against this decision.
All appeals are heard by an Independent Appeal Panel. If successful following an appeal, a place for your child at the school must be provided. Find out more by clicking this link Admission Appeals

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Details of the appeals process for Reception September 2024 are available on the council website.

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How to Appeal

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In order to appeal against the decision not to offer your child a place at Hamstel Infant School, you would need to complete the Admissions Appeals Form available from the link above and submit it directly to the Schools Admission Team. All appeals must be submitted by 16th May 2025.​

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What happens once I have submitted my appeal form?

The admission authority will refer your appeal to the independent appeals clerk. You will receive notation of the date on which the appeal for your child will be heard. For all appeals submitted by the deadline the panel aim to hear them by 18th July 2025.

Late appeals are usually heard late September and October.

 

When will I be informed of the decision?

If we have a number of appeals the panel will not make decisions until all of the appeals have been heard. In these circumstances, it may not be possible to advise you of the outcome of your appeal for some time. If your appeal is the only one heard, the clerk will write to you within 5 school days.

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If my appeal is turned down when can I appeal again?

If you have already appealed you cannot appeal again within in the same academic year. However, in rare circumstances, you may be able to appeal again if there has been a significant and material change in either your circumstances or the circumstances of the school.