Admissions

We provide up to 60 places to reception students each year and operate an open access and fully inclusive admissions policy with pupils from all backgrounds and abilities being welcome.

Applications for Nursery Places

We can offer children a nursery place starting them the day your child turns 3 years old (with an additional cost) or from the term after they turn 3 years old with possible funding. Our intake term dates are September, January and May.  We run free taster sessions for prospective applicants – please enquire at the school office if you would like to attend one.

If you wish to put your child’s name down for a space in our nursery, please contact the school office for an application form. You can call the office on (01325) 380831 or email admissions@skernepark.org.uk. We will contact you once we are able to offer your child a nursery place.

To find out if you are eligible for 15 or 30 hours free childcare a week, please do an eligibility check online at Best Start in Life Parent Hub.

If you are eligible for 30 hours childcare, you will be given a code when you apply online which must then be given to the school office for validation. You must renew your code online every 12 weeks to retain your free hours.

School Admissions

Advance Learning Partnership is the admission authority and is responsible for determining its admission arrangements. The Trust has determined that all admissions will be coordinated through the Local Authority School Admission arrangements. This also includes admission arrangements for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

To view how an ALP school considers applications for every age group and what parents should do if they want to apply for a place for their child at the school, please read the admission policy. Within the policy there will also be details of oversubscription criteria.

Admission Dates

School admissions for September 2024 are now closed. Applications for 2025 admissions will open in September 2024.

How to Apply for a Place

As a parent/carer, you will need to complete the Common Application Form (CAF) online or as hard copy, and submit to the Local Authority. Apply using the Darlington Borough Council Parent Portal page.

If you are considering Skerne Park Academy as an option for your child in reception please don’t hesitate to contact us if you require more details or if you would like to arrange a visit to school prior to your child starting, please contact the school office.

Please click to view:

• Timelines and Important Dates for Primary School Applications
• Admissions Policy
• Darlington Local Authority Admissions Page

In-Year Admissions 

For any new admissions during the school year you must contact Darlington Borough Council who handle the in-year admissions.

Details of in-year admissions are also available within the admission policy.

Appeal Process

For details of what happens after primary school offer day 16^th April, please follow this link.

Darlington Borough Council School Admissions handles the appeal process for a school place. Please follow this link for more information.

Nursery Places

Requests for future Nursery places should be made directly to the school office. We offer both two-year-old nursery provision and nursery for three and four-year-olds. We offer free Play and Learn spaces as well as 30 hours’ free childcare to eligible families.

Paper copies of application forms can be collected from the school office and you will be contacted by the EYFS lead or office staff before your child is due to start with us.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

We are committed to meeting the needs of all children including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We would ask parents to discuss the identified needs with the school prior to starting so that appropriate intervention and support can be planned and implemented. Advice from the LA or other agencies may be requested to ensure the school can meet any needs appropriately.

Applying for a school place if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan or a Statement of SEND

Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (or Statement of Special Education Needs) follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school. Please continue to complete Durham County Council’s parental preference form, as part of the admission process to a new school. You continue to have a right to request a particular school and this will be considered alongside the information that we have about your child’s special educational needs. The information would have been provided as part of the Education, Health and Care assessment or following the review meeting.

You can view further SEND information by downloading the SEND Policy,  Equality Information and Objectives Statement, Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy and Accessibility Plan which you can find in the School Policies section of our website.

If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail, please contact the school to arrange an appointment.