How to apply for a school in Sheffield

All children are entitled to a fulltime school place in the September following their 4th birthday. This is when most children start school.

Children are not required, however, to go to school (or other suitable education) until the first day of the school term that follows their 5th birthday.

Compulsory School Age

There are different dates as to when a child reaches Compulsory School Age (CSA):

A child born between 1 September and 31 December

The child reaches CSA on 31 December and must be in suitable full-time education from the beginning of the Spring term following their fifth birthday (usually in the first week of January).

A child born between 1 January and 31 March

The child reaches CSA on 31 March and must be in suitable full-time education from the beginning of the Summer term following their fifth birthday (after the Easter Holidays).

A child born between 1 April and 31 August: Summer born

The reaches CSA on 31 August and must be in suitable full-time education from the beginning of the Autumn following their fifth birthday (usually in the first week of September).

If your child is under compulsory school age

It's possible to defer admission and continue to attend Pre-School or Nursery until a child reaches CSA.

Alternatively, a child can attend the allocated school on a part time basis up to CSA.

These are pupils whose date of birth fall between 1 April and 31 August.

Summer born children don’t need to start school until the September after their 5th birthday, a full academic year after they could first have started school.

The DFE has produced guidance for parents on this matter and what to factors to be aware of if considering this for your child at GOV.UK: Summer born children - advice for parents.

Parents of summer born children are entitled to delay the admission of the child into full-time school until CSA but should be aware that the entitlement is for children entering Y1 when they start school.

Entering your child into reception at Compulsory School Age 

If you want to delay admission for your summer born child until CSA, you must submit a formal request to the Admission Authority. If approved, your child will be educated out of year group.

Requests can be made by emailing nichola.furniss@sheffield.gov.uk. 

Include why delayed admission is in your child’s best interests and refer to any special, social or medical needs. Where possible, provide any supporting information you may have from relevant professionals.

This oversubscription criteria confirms the priorities for admission to community and voluntary controlled primary schools.

If your enquiry relates to a specific year group, you'll need to get in touch with us for more information.

Priority 1: Children in care

Pupils who are in care or have been previously but ceased to be so because they were adopted, became subject to a child arrangement order or a special Guardianship Order immediately following being in care.

Priority 2: Catchment area with sibling

Children who reside in the defined catchment area who also have a brother or sister at the preferred school at the point of entry.

Priority 3: Catchment area

Children who reside in the defined catchment area of a school.

Priority 4: Siblings 

A sibling is defined as a child who permanently or usually lives at the same address as:

• a brother and/or sister (including half brothers/sisters)
• a stepbrother and/or stepsister
• in both cases, will attend the preferred school at point of entry

Priority 5: Other applications

Any child who does not fit into the above categories will be considered next.

Places are only allocated up to the published indicated admission number.

Tie breakers

If the admission number is reached mid-category, then there is a tie break, meaning places will be allocated either: 

1. where exceptional medical, social or special educational needs are demonstrated and evidenced by a professional
2. if no exceptional circumstances are present; admissions are prioritised by the straight-line distance from a designated point in the school building to a point in the home