Pupils at Didsbury CE Primary School

Admissions


All application forms must be returned to the school office by 15th January 2025.

Nursery Admissions

Didsbury CE Primary School is proud to have a wonderful Nursery for children three years old and above. The ideal preparation for Reception, Nursery here is a separate, caring and loving environment within the school, with its own playground.

There are 26 places for children to enjoy our tailored, play-based curriculum, with the sole focus of making the  Nursery a nurturing home away from home. The Christian ethos of love is very important to us and everything we do is with the aim of making every child feel loved and valued no matter age or need. 

30 Hour Provision - Although most parents/carers use the 15 hours of weekly provision provided free by the government for the morning session between 8.45am and 11.45am. Parents or guardians then either claim the extra 15 hours free child care to make the 30 hours in the week or pay the 'top-up' fee for the afternoon session, should they wish their child to attend. For further wrap around care we have our Didsbury CE Kid's Club; Breakfast Club opens at 7.30am, with the Afternoon Club closing at 6.00pm.

One of the main aims of the Nursery is to prepare children for Reception. While, unfortunately, there is no guarantee that children who come to Nursery will get a place at Didsbury CE Primary School, we spend a lot of time developing the foundations they need to be ready for school. That means everything from learning to listen and be a good friend to focusing on the "three primary areas of development": Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language and Physical Development. Generally we teach writing, maths, counting or phonics within groups, in learning areas or as part of dedicated small group/one-to-one time, but the week is always tailored to the children.

It's a fantastic moment to see children who are ready to fly from Nursery by the end of the school year, and we're incredibly proud of the close relationships we form with parents. We actively encourage an open door policy where you can discuss your child's needs.

Please see the Application Procedure Below to apply for a Nursery place.

Reception Admissions

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important responsibilities for a parent/carer. Our website can not possibly convey the full atmosphere of our welcoming environment, excitement and challenge for learning and developing the 'whole child'.

Didsbury CE Primary School is a one-form entry primary school for children aged 4-11 years. Every September we welcome 30 children into our reception class.

Didsbury is a Church of England Primary School and is part of the Thrive CE Academy Trust, it is one of the highest performing primary schools in Manchester. We have aspirations for all children, evidenced in our excellent end of key stage results, especially ay the higher standard.  It is important to note that the success of our pupils in national tests and as they move on to secondary schools presents only a narrow view of the experiences offered here. We are proud of our fully inclusive approach to children with special needs, the numbers of children who take part in sports, the creative and performing arts, our work in our the community, the development of enterprise and our promotion of a healthy way of living. 

Partnerships are essential. We have strong relationships with governors, staff, children, parents, our churches and Trust schools and the local community.  This all contributes to our Christian ethos, achievements and as a school steeped in history, the upkeep of our impressive traditional school building.

Please see the Application Procedure Below to apply for a Reception place.

In Year Applications

Parents and carers who would like to enroll their child at our school at another age group, may request a place through the local authority.


Application Procedures

In order to apply for a Nuresery or Reception place at Didsbury CE Primary you need to do two things:

  1. Complete the school application form which you can download here.  All application forms must be returned to the school office by the application deadline.
  2. For those applying for a Reception place you must also fill in the Local Authority standard application form (link on the left).
  3. For those seeking admission under the Faith Leader's Category, please complete the Attendance Record for Admission (obtained from St James or Emmanuel churches) and submit to the Parish Office at Emmanuel where you will be issued with a Faith Leader's Reference Form to be submitted to the school office, along with your supplementary application. (The Faith Leader's Reference Form can also be downloaded here.)

In order to fully appreciate the standards and the opportunities offered at Didsbury, the staff and governors warmly invite all prospective parents to visit us and see the school in action for themselves. To arrange a visit, please telephone the school office on 0161 445 7144.

LA Applications for Reception Places

All parent/carers are required to apply to their home Local Authority (LA) regards of where the school/academy they are applying is situated. Manchester residents will apply to Manchester LA.  The LA will liaise with other Admissions Authorities in Manchester and other LAs where required. Manchester LA will inform parent/carers in writing of the outcome of their application.

Application forms for reception places are available from www.manchester.gov.uk/admissions and can be requested by phone on 0161 245 7166.  They should be returned to:

Integrated Admissions Service
Manchester City Council,
P.O. Box 532,
Town Hall,
Manchester,
M60 2LA

Or

school.admissions@manchester.gov.uk

You can view our full Admissions Policy on our Policies page, see the quick link at the bottom of this page.

Appeals Process

Although we are an academy school, we operate our admissions through Manchester City Council's coordinated admissions process.

Should you wish to appeal because your child has not been offered a place in your preferred choice of school please follow the Manchester City Council appeals procedure.

The appeals process for children in Reception to Year 6 is managed by Manchester City Council. Please refer to their website for more information.

Manchester School Admissions can be contacted on 0161 245 7166 or by visiting the Manchester City Councils admissions website.

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