3-7 Years
Preschool Admissions and Reception Class Entry
Children are eligible to join Preschool from the start of the half term or full term following their third birthday.
To help families plan, the upcoming Preschool entry points for 2026 are:
Start of Summer Term: Wednesday 22 April 2026
Start of Second Half of Summer Term: Monday 1 June 2026
Start of Autumn (Michaelmas) Term: Monday 7 September 2026
Preschool Admissions Process: Step-by-Step Guide
1. Explore St Faith’s – Arrange a full tour with our Admissions team or the Headmaster and discover our facilities, ethos, and learning environment. While a full tour is optional, we highly encourage families to attend a Pop-in & Play.
2. Attend a Pop‑in & Play – Visit with your child to explore our setting, meet the team, and experience the atmosphere of our Early Years classrooms and outdoor space.
3. Submit an Application – Complete the formal application for Preschool entry.
4. Provide a Report – If your child currently attends another early years setting, please upload their latest report as part of the application.
5. Share Reference Details – Provide contact information for your child’s key worker so we can request a reference.
6. Exploration Visit – Once we receive your application, your child will be invited to an Exploration Visit in our Preschool classroom. During this relaxed session, our Early Years Team observes your child at play, looking for signs of natural potential, curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and engagement with the environment. Parents are welcome to stay with their child throughout the visit.
7. Offer of Place – Offers are made following a thoughtful, personalised understanding of each child and how we can help them thrive.
8. Home Visit – After a place is accepted, Miss Harder will visit your child at home to build familiarity and trust in their own environment.
9. Current Setting Visit – If your child attends another early years setting, we may arrange a visit there to gain further insight into their learning journey.
10. Settling‑In Sessions – Children holding Preschool offers will be invited to Settling‑In Sessions at St Faith’s — usually one with parents present and one independently — to ensure a smooth transition.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Admissions team: Tel: 01223 229421 or Email: admissions@stfaiths.co.uk
We’ll be very happy to help.
Reception Entry
Children in our Preschool (3+) class will be given priority for admission into Reception (4+), and in most cases, a place in Reception will be offered without the need for further assessment. This means that once enrolled, Preschool pupils will typically be assured a place to continue their educational journey with us through to the end of Year 8. As with all year groups, continued progression is subject to our ability to meet each child’s needs in line with our Admissions Policy.
For children who do not attend our Preschool class but are keen to join us to benefit from a St Faith’s education from their Reception year, we will continue to maintain an entry point for 4+ pupils. Further details on admission into Reception can be found on our website.