Admissions

Starting school is an important milestone, and Derbyshire County Council manages all applications for Reception (infant) places, including applications for our school. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about applying for your child’s September 2026 school place.

For more information on school admissions in Derbyshire, please see the Derbyshire County Council website. https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/school-places/apply-for-a-school-place.aspx

If you live outside Derbyshire you should apply through your local council even if you want to apply for a place at a Derbyshire school.

Apply for primary, infant and junior school places

If your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 they will be eligible to start school in September 2026. You should apply for their infant or primary school place by 15 January 2026. You will be able to make your application here from 9am on 6 November 2025, until Thursday 15TH JANUARY 2026. 

You can apply online here.

Changing school at other times

You may want to apply for your child to change schools other than when they are due to start primary, junior or secondary education. This could be because of a change of address.

If you want to apply for a place at a school in Derbyshire, you can do this online at any time. We’ve added guidance about changing schools to help you through the process.

If you want to apply for a place at a school in another council area you should contact the council where the school is located.

School preference

You have a legal right to express a preference for which school you want your child to go to. This is not the same as being able to choose.

Where you’ve told us of a preference for a particular school and there are places we’ll try to offer you a place at that school.

However, there’s no automatic right to a place at a particular school and it may not always be possible to offer a place at your preference.

Applying for a Ladycross Nursery place

All parents are entitled to 15 hours of nursery for their 3 year olds, and working parents are entitled to 30 hours.

Please click here to find out more information on free places. We have free places available here at Ladycross! 

To apply to join our nursery please fill out our online forms. There is more information about starting dates on the forms. 

Click here for joining in September 2026 through to summer 2027.

We'll invite you and your child to join us for a "stay and play" before you join. If you'd like to see the nursery before making your application please give us a call and we'll be delighted to show you our beautiful nursery.