Admissions
There are two kinds of admissions to Slade.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Admissions are for those children starting school for the first time in Reception Year and In Year Admissions, which happen once a child has already started school and there is a desire or need to transfer schools, or is new to the UK and is of school age.
Both of these are described in full below. If you have any questions, please contact us using the email address admissions@slade.kent.sch.uk.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Admissions
​​​We offer 60 places in our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS, or 'Year R') for new admissions (this is our Published Admissions Number). These places will be allocated by our admissions authority, Kent County Council, in accordance with the following criteria (in order of priority):
- Children in Local Authority Care
- Current Family Associations (siblings)
- Health and Special Access reasons
- Nearness of children's homes to school
EYFS Pre Application Open Events
If your child was born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023, you will soon be applying for a primary school place for a September 2027 start. We would like to invite you to one of our Autumn open events as you consider your choices.
Each of the open events below will start at 09:15 and run to about 11:00, although you are free to leave when you need to. On the morning, you will hear from our Headteacher Viki Garrett, the Early Years Leader Natalie Pearson and other staff involved in special and family provision at Slade as well as the Admissions Officer Stephen Laws who will be able to advise you on all aspects of the application process, both pre and post offer. Following the information part of the session, we invite you to tour the school, asking questions of children and adults alike as you desire.
You should book using the short Microsoft Form beside your chosen event. Once you have booked, please save the date and expect to hear from us about one week before the booked event with all the details you will need on the day.
If you have any questions, please let us know via admissions@slade.kent.sch.uk
Friday 6 November 2026
Slade Primary School Pre EYFS Application Event: Friday 6 November 2026 09:15 - 11:00 – Fill in form
Week beginning Monday 9 November (9 November–13 November)
Please check back soon for the date and booking form for our open event during this week
Wednesday 18 November 2026
Useful Links:
In-Year Admissions
If you are looking to transfer your child from another primary school, please complete an In Year Admissions Form and submit this directly to us. Slade Primary School applies the admissions criteria laid out by Kent County Council as described above in the EYFS Admissions section. Please click on the link below to find out more information about the criteria and for links to the application form required.
Please email your completed application form via our dedicated admissions email address:admissions@slade.kent.sch.uk
Useful links:
Visiting the School
For parents interested in joining Slade as an In Year transfer, we are unable to satisfy demand for tours before such time that an offer of a place has become available. Once this is the case, we will invite you in for a full 1-2-1 family tour before making up your mind whether to accept the place or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I apply for a place for my child?
Children start school when they are 4 rising 5 and all applications should be made via the Kent County Council in the year preceding their 5th birthday.
For example: Children who are born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 need to apply in the application window which opens in November 2026 through to the closing date in mid January 2027 for admission to school in September 2027.
2. Can I put my name down on a waiting list now for a place for reception?
Slade Primary School does not keep a reception waiting list or expression of interest list.
3. What is your catchment area?
There is no official 'catchment area'. We fill our spaces using the criteria mentioned above - with the vast majority of spaces being filled by those living closest to the school (criteria 4). Although a set distance does not guarantee a successful application, and as a guide only from the last two years, the furthest distance from the school to gain a place under this criteria has been 1.3 Kilometres.
4. How are children allocated to a class when they start school?
Children are divided up into two classes in order of date of birth. We attempt, where possible to provide classes with an equal number of boys to girls, additional educational needs and other factors that will allow for a balanced year group.
5. What provision do you have out of school hours?
We have limited spaces wraparound provision at Slade for Breakfast Club, starting at 07:30 and for After School Club finishing at 17:30. Further details can be obtained on the relevant page on this website or by contacting yetis@slade.kent.sch.uk.