School places
If your child has recently arrived in the UK and is living in Staffordshire without a school place you will need to complete the form at: In-year school admissions: Overview - Staffordshire County Council where you will find help and guidance about applying for a school place. Please send the form to your preferred school.
There have been no changes to school admissions or school transport legislation. Children from overseas do not have priority for school places but the Secretary of State advises that these applications should be considered sympathetically.
If you wish to enquire about school places, vacancies, or school transport, please email: admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk
Transport can only be provided in line with the county council’s transport policy, on the basis that your child is attending “the nearest school with vacancies”.
Children currently living overseas
Please see the latest guidance from Department for Education
The Department for Education advises that overseas nationals entering the UK who wish to apply for a state-funded school must check that they have right of abode at: Prove you have right of abode in the UK: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or that their visa will allow them to access a state-funded school.
What happens after I have applied?
Your application will be processed, and a place will be given. You will be informed of this by letter and this will give you a start date. If your child does not start on this date then you could lose the place.
In the case of applications for year groups other than at the normal age of entry to school, you will need to apply around 6 weeks before the place is required.
What if I do not have the documentation required?
If you are unable to provide arrival documents, then your child’s application will be considered using your current address. In the event of the school being full it is unlikely that a place will be offered. If this happens you will not receive another school place until you have arrived in the UK.