Admissions

The Reception September 2026 admissions process opens on 1st November 2025 and closes on 15th January 2026. Staffordshire County Council will offer places on 16th April 2026.

The application window for Nursery places starting in September 2025 opened on 3rd February 2025 and closed on 4th April 2025. Offers were made by 11th April 2025.

We currently have only afternoon places available in our Nursery.  If you are interested, please get in touch with us directly or complete the Nursery Admission form at the bottom of this page.

We offer:

• 24 morning places

• 24 afternoon places

If you would like to apply for a September 2025 start, please download the application form below and return the completed form to:
📧 admissions@oakridge.staffs.sch.uk
Applications will be acknowledged within 72 hours. If you do not receive confirmation, please contact the school office to check it has been received.

If you are applying for a start date other than September, please use the same form, clearly stating your preferred start date. These applications should be emailed to:
📧 office@oakridge.staffs.sch.uk

Oakridge Primary School manages its own Nursery admissions in accordance with our published admissions policy. Places are allocated directly by the school.

Increasing Hours
Children already attending our Nursery may increase their hours as the year progresses. If you would like to request additional sessions, please complete the same form below and indicate your request.

We’re really looking forward to welcoming you and your child to our school.

Before your child starts, we’d love for you to come and visit us. Our Open Mornings are a great chance to explore the school, meet the Headteacher and staff and ask any questions you might have. You’ll find the dates and times listed below.

We also host an evening induction meeting for parents during the summer term. This is an opportunity to chat with us, raise any questions or concerns and learn more about how we’ll support your child’s transition to school life.

To help children feel comfortable and confident those joining our Nursery and Reception classes will be invited to attend morning induction sessions at the end of the summer term. These sessions help children get to know the school and feel right at home before starting in September.

At Oakridge Primary School our class sizes are kept to a maximum of 30 pupils in Reception, Year One, and Year Two, in line with the government’s class size pledge. In some exceptional circumstances, this number may go above 30 if the Local Authority places children under the ‘permitted exceptions’ criteria.

In Key Stage Two (Years Three to Six) we also aim for classes of 30. However, we may occasionally be able to welcome additional pupils if there is space and it’s appropriate to do so.

If you’d like to apply for a place at Oakridge Primary School, you’ll need to complete an In-Year Application Form through Staffordshire County Council. (download a copy of the form here).  A section of the form must be completed by your child’s current headteacher.

Once you’ve submitted your completed application form, we’ll let Staffordshire County Council know about your application and the outcome. You’ll then receive a letter confirming whether or not a place has been offered.

If a place is available, the letter will include helpful information about the next steps and how to prepare for your child’s start at Oakridge. If we’re unable to offer a place, the letter will also explain how you can appeal the decision, should you wish to do so.

We love to welcome prospective parents of Nursery and Reception children to one of our Open Mornings.

These relaxed sessions are a great opportunity to meet the Headteacher, take a guided tour of the school, and ask any questions you might have about life at Oakridge.

All Open Mornings start at 10:00am and last for about an hour.

📅 Tuesday 21st October 2025
📅 Thursday 20th November 2025
📅 Thursday 8th January 2026

These dates are mainly aimed at Reception parents, but Nursery parents are more than welcome to join us too.

We’ll also be offering two additional Open Mornings specifically for Nursery parents in early 2026 — more details to follow.

Please get in touch if you would like to attend on 01785 337300

Children are admitted to Oakridge Nursery in the September of the academic year in which they turn four.
For September 2025 entry, children must be born between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021.

Children begin Nursery at the start of the Autumn Term (September), following Home Visits by Nursery staff. The maximum number of children in each Nursery session is 24.

Nursery Session Times

• Morning session: 8:50am – 11:50am (3 hours per day)

• This constitutes the 15 government-funded hours.

Wraparound Care

• Additional childcare is available after the morning Nursery session through our Little Oaks provision, running from 11:50am onwards.

• This wraparound care supports parents requiring extended hours beyond the funded morning session.

Starting Before September / Little Oaks Provision

Children who are not yet old enough to start in the Nursery may still attend Little Oaks as soon as they turn 3 years old. However, please note:

• Universal 3-Year-Old Funding begins from the start of the term following your child’s third birthday.

• For example, a child turning 3 in November can begin attending immediately, but fees will apply until January, when the 3-year-old funding begins.

2-Year-Old Funding

If you have successfully applied for 2-year-old funding, your child may begin attending from the term in which they turn 3 — without any charge for 15 hours. Subject to availability, they may also access the full 30 funded hours the following term.

For further information on funded childcare options, including eligibility for 15 and 30 hours and 2-year-old funding,

For further information on funded childcare options - please click here

The school offers the full 30 hours Nursery provision - full details are available during our Open Mornings or by contacting the school office. Further information on eligibility can be found by clicking here.

More information on times and prices are available in the Wrap around Care section of the website.

Children join the Reception class at Oakridge Primary School in September of the academic year in which they turn five.

Reception places are allocated by Staffordshire County Council, in accordance with their admissions policy.

If you are considering applying for a place at Oakridge, please attend one of our Open Mornings. These sessions provide a valuable opportunity to visit the school, meet the Headteacher and staff, and ask any questions you may have.

The Published Admission Number (PAN) for Reception is 30 pupils.

For more information on how to apply, or to view Staffordshire County Council’s admissions policy, please visit their website or contact our school office.