RECEPTION ADMISSIONS SEPTEMBER 2026
We are delighted to invite parents of children due to start school in September 2026 to visit Lady Joanna Thornhill (Endowed) Primary School for a daytime tour of our lovely school.
The daytime tours are a great opportunity to view our lovely school on a normal day and for you to decide whether we are a good fit for your child. We welcome children to attend with you. If you would like to book a space for this, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reception-admissions-2026-lady-joanna-thornhill-primary-school-tickets-1680027420239?aff=oddtdtcreator
Do also take look at the wonderful 'Transfer to Reception' video below. If you have any queries, or require any further information, please do email Mrs Cox at admissions@ladyj.kent.sch.uk or by using the contact form below.
SCHOOL TOURS
Thursday 6th November | 1:30pm | Fully Booked |
Wednesday 12th November | 9:30am | Fully Booked |
Wednesday 19th November | 9:30am | Fully Booked |
Thursday 20th November | 1:30pm | Fully Booked |
Wednesday 26th November | 9:30am | |
Thursday 27th November | 1:30pm | Fully Booked |
Wednesday 3rd December | 9:30am | |
Thursday 4th December | 1:30pm |
IN YEAR ADMISSIONS
If you are thinking of moving your child from their current school, we have limited space for some year groups. Please complete an in year admission form (click here) and send to Mrs Cox at admissions@ladyj.kent.co.uk or telephone 01233 812781. You may also use the contact form below to book a tour.
Please complete if you would like more information about pupil spaces at Lady Joanna Thornhill. Please include your child's date of birth, current year group, your address and contact details
The information contained on this page should be read in conjuction with the KCC Admissions policy.
Online applications for a reception school place for September 2026 are open between Friday 7th November 2025 and Thursday 15th January 2026. Paper applications should be submitted by visiting the KCC primary admissions website and downloading a form. The final date for acceptance of on time changes to application details is Thursday 12th February 2026.
If you miss the deadline, you can submit a late application up until Thursday 30th April 2026, although you will only receive a school place offer in the second round of offers.
If you applied online KCC will email you on National Offer Day on Thursday 16th April 2026, after 4pm, to tell you which school you have been offered. They cannot guarantee the exact time you will receive your email, this will depend on your email service provider.
You can also log in after 5pm on offers day to view your offer online.
If you receive an offer of a place at our school, please be aware that you must send back your form to us to accept or refuse the place by no later than Thursday 30th April 2026. If you are accepting your place, we will also require you to bring in the ID required on the acceptance form and also your child's original birth certificate (full version, we are not able to accept photocopies).
If you have applied to our school but have not received a place in the first round of offers you can apply to be placed on the waiting list for the second reallocation round of offers. The deadline for applications for the waiting list is Thursday 30th April 2026.
The second round / reallocation offers will be sent out on Thursday 21st May 2026, after which time we, as a school, will be responsible for our waiting list. Any applications after this date must be made by completing a Primary In Year Admission Form (IYAF) and returning it to the school as soon as possible.
If you wish to appeal a decision regarding admissions for Reception Year, the deadline for this is Monday 18th May 2026 for it to be considered by Friday 18th July 2025. Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education. Please see the section below for details regarding how to lodge an appeal.
RECEPTION YEAR POSTAL APPLICATIONS
If you applied by post KCC will send your offer by first class post on Thursday16th April 2026.
Click on the links below to be redirected to the kent.gov.uk website.
Deferred Entry Admissions for Summer Born Children
Children reach compulsory school age at the beginning of term after their fifth birthday. The children due to be admitted in any academic year are those born between 1st September and the following 31st August. Each school decides as a matter of policy when to admit four year old. In coming to a decision the Headteacher has to take account of the number of teachers, class sizes and the accommodation at the school.
In line with Kent County Council’s commitment to open enrollment, Lady Joanna Thornhill will do its best to provide a place for a child at the school, but this may not always be possible. The capacity of the accommodation or other constraints at our school may mean that parental preference cannot be met.
Admission may have to be refused, for example, if it would lead to oversized classes now or later, or it would prevent resources from being used efficiently. In some years we have not been able to accept all applicants to the school.
The LEA has to plan the number of children admitted to each school very carefully to make sure that no school is overcrowded. For this reason Lady Joanna Thornhill intends to admit a maximum of 60 children into Reception for the new academic year. (There is no set allocation of places for admissions of children entering school other than in Reception).
If the number of preferences for our school is less than this figure, there is usually no problem in meeting parents’ wishes. However, there may be occasions where so many parents want places that difficult decisions have to be made.
When this happens, places at County schools are allocated by the LEA (or Headteacher acting on its behalf) taking account of the following priority order:
For information regarding our school's Admission Policy, please click the link below:
If you want to transfer your child from one primary school to another, other than at the normal transfer age (for example because you are moving home), you should contact the school, it would also be helpful if you could inform the Headteacher of your child’s present school. The transfer of a child to another school on educational grounds can be considered at any time. If you wish to apply for a place at our school for your child in year, you would need to complete the IYAF (In Year Admission Form) and return to the school. We will then write to you and advise if we have a space available, and if not we will offer you the opportunity to join our waiting list. Applications will be dealt with upon receipt and in any event, by 31st August at the latest each year.
Parents who are unhappy with an admission decision at a particular County school can appeal in writing to the Education Office at (Appeal a school offer - Kent County Council). If you are not satisfied with this decision, the case can be referred to members of the Education & Libraries committee. There is a final stage of appeal to an Independent Statutory Appeal Committee, although if the admission of the child would breach Infant class Size Limit, this appeal can only be upheld where parents demonstrated the Authority has acted unreasonably or erroneously in refusing their child a place.
Applications for Reception places are completed online through the Kent County Council Website – KCC Admissions. Please note that there are set deadlines and special forms for children entering Reception. Information is usually available in the December before your child is due to start school, with deadlines for application usually in January before your child is due to start school.
In Year Applications need to complete the IYAF form – IYAF FORM – and return it to the school either by post or email.