Prospective Parents
Prospective Parent and Carer Presentation for the 2025-26 Reception intake
Nurtured + Inspired = Happy
Are you looking for a school space for September 2026? We recommend that you visit plenty of local schools to where best matches your needs and wants as a family. With us, you'll find a school that prioritises happiness and wellbeing. We cherish and celebrate each unique child. We deliver an impactful curriculum filled with experiences and enrichments that open our children's eyes to the wider world. We strive for academic and behavioural excellence with the support of our highly specialised, experienced and passionate teaching team. We recognise that you are only a child once, so you might as well enjoy it!
Did you know that over 60% of our Reception intake this year comes from out of catchment? With 90 places in each year group, we work with families from all over North Yorkshire!
As Ofsted said about us in December 2024, "Pupils thrive in this inclusive environment," "The way the school develops pupils' character is exceptional," and "Parents are overwhelmingly happy with the wealth of opportunities and experiences their children have."
We would love the opportunity to show you around our nurturing, inspiring and happy school. Please call our friendly school office on 01423 871036 to book onto one of our tours.
We can't wait to meet you!
Applications:
You can apply for school places via the North Yorkshire admissions website here: School admissions | North Yorkshire Council. You can also use the website here to make find out how to make an appeal and to check deadlines. We strongly advise that you fill in all of your options, and that you do not leave any blank, just in case you don't get your first choices!
Open Sessions:
Monday 13th October 9.15am and 6.00pm
Monday 20th October 9.15am and 6.00pm
Monday 1st December 9.15am and 6.00pm
Wednesday 3rd December 9.15am and 6.00pm
Deferrals:
If you are considering deferring your child(ren)'s start to school, then please carefully read the guidance from the Department for Education here: Summer born children: advice for parents - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Some local Nurseries and GPs are suggesting that all families with summer born children request a deferral, which conflicts with the DfE guidance. Some members of the community, including local Nurseries and GPs, have also advised families that being allocated a space and deferring reserves that pupil a place in the school for the following year. This is not true, and families will need to reapply via the admission authority the following year.
We agree with the recommendations laid out by the DfE below: that deferring is not usually in the child(ren)'s best interest as it can have a considerable impact on their future schooling, and that it should be reserved for very rare, exceptional circumstances only.
The school will look at each request on a case-by-case basis, and we urge families to research thoroughly before making a request.
DfE deferral guidance:
Starting school aged 5:
If you decide your summer born child will start school aged 5, and you want your child to start school in reception (not year 1), you need to make a request to the school’s admission authority. This is called requesting admission out of the normal age group – because children born from 1 September in one year to 31 August the following year are normally educated together in one year group.
Reception is the final year of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) and has a focus on phonics and early arithmetic. The key stage 1 curriculum begins in year 1.
If you do not make a request for admission out of the normal age group your child will start school in year 1. You should consider the potential impact of missing the reception year.
The admission authority decides whether children who start school at compulsory school age should be admitted to reception or year 1. They must make this decision in the child’s best interests.
The government believes it is usually not in a child’s best interests to miss the teaching that takes place during the reception year, and that it should be rare for a child to start school in year 1.
To find out more information about our nurturing and inspiring school please follow us on Instagram at oatlands_infants.
Data and quotes from families from the settling in survey for the 2025-26 Reception intake:
- 100% of families strongly agree or agree that their child is happy in school
- 100% of families strongly agree or agree that their child feels safe in school
- 100% of families strongly agree or agree that staff are approachable and welcoming
- 100% of families strongly agree or agree that senior leaders are visible and approachable
- 100% of families strongly agree or agree that they would recommend Oatlands Infants to friends and family
"I feel really proud that my daughter goes to this school! Very happy with the class teacher Miss Jenkins, she's fab!"
"I have been delighted about how my son has settled. He's always happy going in - helped by Mrs PB's encouraging and welcoming presence. He is always happy at the end of the day and while he usually "can't remember" much about his day he is a big fan of the puddings at lunch time!"
"We are delighted with how well the start of the year seems to have gone for our son (Tree Frogs). He is incredibly happy going into school and is enthusiastic about reading his 'wordless books' at home to his family and exploring the books in the school library."
"Cannot thank the team enough - feel very lucky to have our son at Oatlands."
"Really lovely start to my child’s school life - she has come home happy each day and goes into school with a smile."
"Thought the staggered start to reception worked really well to ease our son (and us!) into the routine of him attending school full time. Have found the playground to be a really friendly welcoming place for both children and parents which is lovely, really appreciate the availability of staff, and having the fun run early on in term was a great idea as a way to connect with friends outside of school and build relationships. The staff we've met have all been really friendly and enthusiastic, and it's clear there's a lot of passion and exciting things going on in school which is lovely to see. We are really happy with the school so far"
"Miss Milburn has been so attentive and caring to the new Lemurs and I feel strongly that she has made their transition to reception a lovely experience. Mrs Perreira has also been fantastic."
"Miss Milburn has been absolutely brilliant. My daughter has settled so much quicker than I anticipated. She is very happy when she comes out each day which is all can ask for. Thank you."
"The Dolphins classroom has been brilliant so far for our daughter. I love the morning drop off and the chance to have a quick check in with the teachers if needed."
"Miss Milburn is absolutely lovely. The first thing I noticed was how she gets down to the children's level to speak to them when arriving at school which is a lovely, accepting touch. Our daughter sometimes gets a bit clingy before going in but Miss Milburn knows exactly what to do to cheer her up and get her through the door...so much so she comes out saying she wants to go back in!"
"Thanks to Miss Jenkins, Miss Milburn and Miss Shaw for helping my daughter settle in so well. She was upset at the start and now skips in. That’s testament to your fabulous attitudes and nurturing approach. I also felt supported and had several conversations with staff across the school re settling in and adaptations we could make to make it easier, which made me feel better too. Keep up the hard work all. You are all doing an amazing job and my daughter is absolutely loving it!!! Thank you" |
