John Rankin Infant and Nursery School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked After and Previously Looked After Children — Looked After Children and all Previously Looked After Children. This category includes children who were previously in care outside of England and were subsequently adopted. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order. By children previously in state care outside of England, we mean children who have been looked after outside of England by a public authority, a religious organisation or another provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society. The care may have been provided in orphanages or other settings. Evidence will be required to support an application, and the admission authority will determine if the evidence provided is sufficient.
2. 2Children with Exceptional Social or Medical Needs — Children with Exceptional Social or Medical Needs, supported by a written recommendation from a paediatrician, consultant, or Children's Services professional. The letter must explain why the school is the only suitable school to meet the child's needs and why no other school could provide the appropriate support for the child.
3. 3Catchment Area Pupils — Children whose permanent home address (defined in Appendix 1) is within the school's catchment area (as shown in Appendix 2).
4. 4Non-Catchment Siblings — Siblings of children (including step/foster sibling and children of the parent's/carer's partner living in the same family unit) who are already attending John Rankin Infant School and will continue to attend compulsory education at the school during the following academic year. A child or children with a multiple birth sibling who has a confirmed EHCP that names the school in advance of starting the school will also be considered a sibling. The brother or sister will also be considered a sibling if they are registered at John Rankin Junior School (partner school) of John Rankin Infant School and will continue to attend compulsory education at the school during the following academic year.
5. 5Children of School Staff — Where the staff member has been employed by the school for two or more years or is recruited to fill a demonstrable skill shortage. This criterion applies to both teaching and non-teaching groups of staff that meet one or both of the above definitions.
6. 6All Other Applicants — Applicants who do not meet the above criteria.

If two applications tie: 1. Sibling Priority: Siblings of children already attending the school (as defined in the sibling criteria) will be given priority within oversubscription criteria 1-4. 2. Early Years Pupil Premium: A child entitled to the Early Years Pupil Premium Grant (during the application period, 12 September to 15 January) who attends the nursery school that is linked to the school. 3. Children of UK Service Personnel and Crown Servants who are returning from overseas. 4. Proximity to the School: Priority will be given to children living closest to the school. Distances will be measured using a Geographical Information System (GIS), which calculates straight-line distances from the child's permanent home address to the school. 5. Lottery System: If two or more applicants meet the same criteria and are equidistant from the school, a lottery system will be used to determine their rank.

No automatic transfer from John Rankin Infant School to John Rankin Junior School; parents must apply separately. John Rankin Junior School is named as a partner school for sibling purposes. Multiple births: if last place offered is from a multiple birth, all siblings offered places even if exceeding PAN.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.