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Information:

Absence

Absence FAQs

Q: How do I let the school know if my child is poorly and can’t come to school?
A: Please phone the school on 01604 655860 and leave a message or email the office before 9am marije.tilley@prestonhedges.org

Q: How do I request time off for my child?
A: If your child/children need time off school, please complete this form: PHAT Absence Request Form

Q: What absences are allowed?
A: We follow government guidance on which absences are allowed from school. These are:

  • Sickness/illness
  • Emergency and planned medical appointments
  • Days for specific religious observance

There are also other permitted absences in exceptional circumstances which are at the discretion of the headteacher. These are:

  • Compassionate grounds
  • Family wedding / civil partnership taking place on a school day
  • Family crisis
  • Examinations off-site
  • Educational opportunity – sport and performance
  • Attendance at an event at the request of a public organisation
  • Visit to a new school
  • Family relocation visit

All these can be requested via the PHAT Absence Request Form

Q: Which absences are not allowed?
A: In line with national guidelines and regulations, the following absences are not authorised:

  • Family holidays regardless of length
  • Family trips
  • Leaving school early to travel to an event

Please be aware that any holiday in term time will be treated as unauthorised and could result in a fine from the local authority.

Admissions Criteria

PRESTON HEDGES DETERMINED CRITERIA
Places will be allocated to pupils who have a statement of SEN or EHC plan that names the school as appropriate provision.

Oversubscription Criteria

  1. Looked after children, and all previously looked after children, including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
  2. Pupils living within the area defined below* with an older brother or sister** continuing at the school at the time of admission of the younger child.
  3. Children of qualified teaching staff where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made.
  4. Pupils who live closest to the preferred school within the defined area*
  5. Pupils with an older brother or sister **continuing at the school at the time of admission of the younger child.
  6. Other Pupils

Please note: The defined area is from the urban area within which criteria ii, and iv operate is defined by the A45 to the West, the B526 Newport Pagnell Road to the North, Wooldale Road to the South and the extent of the Wootton Fields development to the East and South East.

*Brother or sister (sibling) is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters.

Tie Break Criteria

If the admission number is exceeded within criterion (2-6), priority will be given to those who are closest to the school on a straight-line basis.  A representative of the Trust will undertake measurements on the school’s behalf for in-year applications. Initial Year R applications are dealt with entirely by West Northamptonshire Council.

Distances are measured from the address point of your home to the address point of the school on a straight-line basis, using a geographical information system. Each address has a unique address point established by the most valuable elements from the National Land and Property Gazeteer (NPLG), Ordnance Survey Master Map, Royal Mail Postal Address File and The Valuation Office Agency. The address point for a property does not change.

Where two or more children share a priority for a place in any criterion e.g., where two children live equidistant from the school, these places will be allocated using random allocation undertaken by an independent body.  However, if children of multiple births are tied for the final place those siblings will be admitted over PAN as permitted by infant class size rules.

**Sibling
A Brother or sister (sibling) is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, (within a family unit) including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters.  The sibling must be in the school at the time of application and continuing at the school at the proposed date of admission.

Appeals

Please find the forms required to submit an appeal for an in-year place below:
Infant Class Prejudice Appeal Form (Years R, 1 and 2)
Ordinary Prejudice Appeal Form (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6)

https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/school-admissions/appeal-school-place

2023 Admissions Policy

Trust Admissions Policy 24-25

Trust Admissions Policy 25-26

Comments regarding the policy can be made by clicking here.

Breakfast & After School Club Admissions

We use an external provider to manage our bookings – Childcare Bookings for Schools. They provide an online booking system for our wraparound care and manage all of the associated admin.  You can access our online booking system by clicking here: preston-hedges.cbfs.uk/.

Full details on how to use the booking system can be found on the Breakfast and After School club page on the website.

Appeals

Please find the forms required to submit an appeal for an in-year place below:
Infant Class Prejudice Appeal Form (Years R, 1 and 2)
Ordinary Prejudice Appeal Form (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6)

https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/school-admissions/appeal-school-place

2023 Admissions Policy
Trust Admissions Policy 24-25

Trust Admissions Policy 25-26 Final

Comments regarding the policy can be made by clicking here.

Breakfast & After School Club Admissions

We use an external provider to manage our bookings – Childcare Bookings for Schools. They provide an online booking system for our wraparound care and manage all of the associated admin.  You can access our online booking system by clicking here: preston-hedges.cbfs.uk/.

Full details on how to use the booking system can be found on the Breakfast and After School club page on the website.

INFORMATION
FOR PARENTS

ASPIRATION FOR ALL

Our bespoke curriculum nurtures aspiration, imagination, moral guidance, fun and creativity.

Alongside academic achievement, this gives every child at Preston Hedges School the opportunity to fulfil their own unique potential.

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Our

Story

We pride ourselves on providing our children with the very best creative experiences and opportunities and have evident strengths in the Creative and Visual Arts. We believe our unique curriculum is the vehicle for lifelong learning. We don’t just give our children curriculum experiences, we light the fire of creativity.

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OUR STAFF

Our creative and highly skilled staff team share a passion to sustain the school’s exceptionally high standards.

Constantly driving our practice forward, and delivering continuous school improvement. We work together to share ideas, spread best practice, support and constructively challenge each other, to bring out our very best.

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PRESTON HEDGES PRIMARY SCHOOL

Wootton Hope Drive, Wootton Fields, Northampton, NN4 6BU

Registered Office: Wootton Hope Drive, Wootton Fields, Northampton, NN4 6BU. Registration No. 08282041. England & Wales.