Kindergarten Admissions Guide 2025

Kindergarten Admissions Guide For entry in September 2025

What does the Ibstock Kindergarten Process involve? CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION: 30 AUGUST 2024

STAY AND PLAY SESSION

Saturday 14 September 2024

All registered applicants are invited to attend our Stay and Play session on Saturday 14 September. You will be allocated a one hour slot during which you and your child can explore the Pre-Prep facilities. Stimulating activities for children to enjoy will be set up both in the classroom and the outside area. There will be an opportunity to visit our wonderful Bluebell Woods and join in with some exciting Forest School activities. Teachers will be on hand to talk to parents and answer questions as well as to engage with the children. All children who attend the Stay and Play session will be entered into the ballot. Siblings of current pupils who attend the session are guranteed a place in one of our two Kindergarten classes. The other places will be allocated via the ballot.

We have approximately 40 places available for external candidates each year, split evenly between boys and girls. Children join us in Kindergarten from a wide range of local day nurseries and nursery schools. Applicants who have been offered a place on the waiting list following the entrance process will remain on the list until the new academic year starts in September. If no place has been offered by this time, applicants are welcome to move their registration forward for occasional place entry into Prep 1.

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TAKING CARE OF YOUR CHILD DURING THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS We recognise that some children may feel a bit worried about visiting big school. We are mindful of this and will do all that we can to make the children feel comfortable. We asked some of our current Kindergarten pupils what they remembered about visiting Ibstock before they started and this is what they said:

“I was so excited when I came to visit Kindergarten. I liked seeing the bigger children in their uniform and playing with my new friends” Evie, current Kindergarten pupil

“I loved playing on the equipment in the playground when I came to visit. Now I’m at school, my favourite things are phonics and swimming!” Ludo, current Kindergarten pupil

Our History

Ibstock was founded on the educational principles of Fredrich Froebel, which were considered radical for his day. Emphasis on the learning experiences of young children and engendering free thinking are still central to our School ethos today. Currently, Ibstock Place School is independent of the Froebel Trust and has charitable status, with the governing body overseeing its management. We’re delighted that, through 2024, we shall be able to celebrate a proud 130 year history which champions both co-education and the value of a genuinely holistic view of education, one which is academically rigorous and yet which also provides our pupils with so much more beyond.

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AFTER THE ASSESSMENTS

Offer Decisions Offer decisions will be released in late September 2025. Offer Holder Event for Parents All parents whose children hold an offer will be invited into school on the afternoon of Friday 4 October. The event will provide you with the opportunity to hear from key members of staff, ask questions and have another look at the School before making your final decision. Offer Response Our deadline for responses to offers will be 12 noon on Friday 18 October 2024.

Welcome Evening In June 2025 parents who have accepted a place for their child will have the opportunity to visit Pre-Prep again and meet their child’s teachers and the parents of their new classmates. Induction Day Our Kindergarten pupils are invited into School the day before the start of term to give them an opportunity to settle into their new surroundings before the older pupils join on the first day of term.

“We are delighted that you have chosen for your child to take part in our 4+ admissions process and we can’t wait to meet you and your family! Alice Deslongrais, Head of Pre-Prep

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