Admissions

Little Bluebells Pre-School

Little Bluebells is for children aged 2 – 4 years and is run by Bluebell Childcare. The pre-school is open daily, Monday – Friday from 9am to 3.15pm, and offers morning and afternoon sessions.

For further details on admissions, please contact Little Bluebells on 07891 377581 or email [email protected]

Starting School

Children start school at the beginning of the term after their 4th birthday.

If a child’s 4th Birthday is between:

  • 1 April - 31 August - start school in the Autumn Term
  • 1 September - 31 December - start school in the Spring Term
  • 1 January - 31 March - start school in the Summer Term

Children starting school in the Spring Term will attend mornings only (5 morning sessions of 3 hours) for two terms. In the following Autumn Term, they will attend full time.

Children starting school in the Summer Term will attend mornings only (5 morning sessions of 3 hours) for one term. In the following Autumn Term, they will attend full time.

All children must attend full time in the term following their 5th birthday.

Parents will be invited to visit the school prior to admission.

Click here for our School Readiness Leaflet 

Applying for a Place for the first time – September 2024

To apply for a place at Hockliffe Lower School, please visit the Schools Admissions Service, Central Bedfordshire Council or collect an application form and admissions booklet from any Lower School or Pre-School in Central Bedfordshire.

Children who are admitted on a part time basis at the beginning of the spring and summer terms will not be formally admitted to the school on a full-time basis until the following September and they will not automatically be guaranteed a place in the full time reception class. However, parents/carers will still need to complete an admissions application.

Parents/carers will receive a letter from the Schools Admissions Service on National Offer Day in April to inform on whether the child has been allocated a place.

For further information, contact the School Admissions Service on 0300 300 8037 or email Hockliffe Lower School

Requesting an Admission Appeal for Year R – September 2024

Following national offer day on Tuesday, 16 April 2024, if you have named Hockliffe Lower School as one of your preferences and were unsuccessful, you have a right to appeal against the decision to an independent appeal panel.

The appeals timetable* for Hockliffe Lower School for pupils starting in Year R in September 2024 is shown below. Stage 1 hearing and Stage 2 individual hearings will be held virtually, with meeting invites issued by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel nearer the time.

Wednesday, 15 May 2024 at 3pm - Deadline to request an appeal form

Friday, 17 May 2024 at 3pm - Deadline to lodge an appeal**

Week Commencing 24 June 2024 - Appeal hearings will be held during this week. Appellants will be advised as to precise day and time by the clerk.

Should you wish to appeal against the decision not to offer your child a place at Hockliffe Lower School, please email [email protected] providing the name of the child, their date of birth, and an email address where the appeal paperwork can be sent. Requests for appeal forms must be made by 3pm on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.

*Please note it may not be possible to include within this timetable any appeals that are lodged after the deadline.

**This is the deadline by which the completed appeal form must be received by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel.

In-Year Applications

Applying for places in Years Reception – Year 4.

In-Year admissions refer to applications made at any other time after the initial September entry into Reception.

Please note that when a place does become available it is allocated strictly in accordance with the school’s admissions criteria.

How to Apply

Applications for September 2023 - 2024

Applications for an in-year admission for September 2023 can be made from the beginning of June 2023. Please find below the link to Kingsbridge Educational Trust’s (KET) Schools application form.

Hockliffe Lower School Application for 2023-24

To complete the editable PDF on a phone/tablet/computer, you will need to complete the form and then using ‘save as’ save it on to the device you are using. The completed form should be emailed with the other supporting documentation to: [email protected]

Applicants can submit the application form with the supporting documents during June and July for a place starting in September 2023, to show continued interest in a place at the school. When the school returns from the summer holidays, if there are any vacancies, offers are made from the top of the waiting list.

Being on the waiting list does not guarantee a place at the school.

Admission Arrangements

Admission Arrangements 2023/24

Admission Arrangements 2024/25

Admission Arrangements 2025/26

Parent Handbook

The Parent Handbook contains useful information on starting at Hockliffe Lower School.