Admissions

Reception - Year 6 Admissions

If you would like your child to attend our school and they are in Reception - Year 6 please visit the local authority website: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/admissions

Starting Reception

A helpful tool created by the early years sector and backed by Government, the Starting Reception definition is a simple tool that outlines what children should practice at home before starting Reception and directs parents to trusted advice and activities. This will help parents understand how to prepare their child well in advance with the skills they need ready to start school.

Nursery Admissions

Pike Fold Primary School has an EYFS unit which is built for our Nursery and Reception children, all 112 children in one space! The outdoor play area is attached to our EYFS unit.

Children are admitted to the nursery in the term following their third birthday if places are available. They attend a morning session for 3 hours each day. Full-time places are available for an extra charge. The school controls its own nursery admissions.

Learning is enabled by carefully planned play activities. We provide nursery education, not childcare. Children begin to learn phonics for reading and how to use numbers. Our nursery is part of our whole school enabling our staff to take your child on to the next stage of learning appropriate to their developmental stage.

Full time places/Charging

Parents/guardians who want their child to attend full time will be charged for the time over and above their free entitlement of 15 hours (3hours per day). This charge may be paid for by the Government as part of parent’s entitlement to 30 free hours childcare. However, parents that do not qualify for the 30 hours additional funding will be charged for the additional 3-hour nursery class session.

The charge will be made for every day of the term and there will be no refund if the child is absent for any reason.

The rate of charge is agreed annually by the Governing body and matches the Manchester City Council offer. This will be updated annually in the Policy.

If parents are entitled to 30 free hours, they must obtain their ‘validity code’ from HMRC and give this to school. Parents validity must be checked every 3 months parents will be reminded by HMRC.

Payments must be made for each half term in advance and a half term’s notice is required if the child is to be withdrawn from the nursery. School will issue an invoice 10 days before payments are required.

For parents who have to pay for the full-time place: if payment is not received by 10 working days after the date due, the full-time nursery place will be withdrawn with immediate effect.

For parents who are eligible for 30 hours of funding, we will be notified by Manchester if you ‘fall out of validity’. There is a grace period until the end of the term and then the extra 15 hours of the full-time place will be withdrawn unless you decide to self-fund the place.

If your child is 2 years and 6 months or older please complete our Nursery Application Form to make your online application via Admicity.

The closing date for applications to be in the first round of offers will be Friday 13th March 2026.

Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

At Pike Fold Primary School, 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

Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school. Please contact the EHCP team at Manchester on 0161-245-7439 or sen@manchester.gov.uk for further information.