The Admissions Process
A very warm welcome to Chinthurst! When my own children joined the school, I immediately felt the genuine warmth and sense of community that make this such a special place and I’m delighted to share that same experience with you. As the main point of contact for prospective parents, I’m here to make your admissions journey as smooth and reassuring as possible.
I hope the information below gives you a helpful overview of our admissions process. If you’d like more information - or simply a friendly chat - please do get in touch on 01737 812 011. If you would prefer to send your details by email to me, please complete the online enquiry form or email me at [email protected]. I’d be delighted to help with any queries you may have.
What is the Admissions Process?
Step 1 - Make an Enquiry
To begin your Chinthurst journey, simply complete our short online enquiry form. This gives us the details we need so I can send you personalised information about life at Chinthurst, along with guidance on availability in your child’s year group.
Step 2 - Visit Us
We would be delighted to welcome you to Chinthurst for a personal tour, where you can meet our wonderful children and dedicated teachers. You can also arrange to speak with our Headteacher, Cathy Trundle, about the individual needs of your child. In addition to personal tours, we host two Open Mornings each year (October and March), as well as Early Years Fun Mornings for families considering Nursery or Reception entry - all wonderful opportunities to get a true feel for our school community.
Step 3 - Register / Meeting Your Child
When you feel confident that Chinthurst is the right place for your child, we warmly invite you to register (please note that some year groups may operate a waitlist). Registration involves a £150 fee, completing an online form, and uploading your child’s birth certificate.
For our Nursery, children aged 2 to 2.5 years may be offered a place directly, subject to availability. Children joining Little Chicks (2.5 to 3 years) and Pre-Reception (3 to 4 years) will be invited to attend a taster session, during which we carry out informal observations in a relaxed and nurturing environment.
For children joining the main school, those entering Reception will also attend a taster session with informal observations. Children applying for Years 1–6 will take part in an age-appropriate assessment at the start of their visit. Prior to this, we kindly ask parents to provide a copy of their child’s most recent school report.
Please note that registration does not guarantee the offer of a place.
Step 4 - Offer of a Place
Once you have received and accepted an offer (we request completion of acceptance forms and a deposit of £600 to confirm a place), we will stay closely in touch as you prepare to join our community. Nearer your child’s start date, we host a few familiarisation and transition events for families to enjoy. Our weekly newsletter, The Chronicle, is also lovely way to follow the day-to-day life of our school. You can subscribe to The Chronicle
Please see our Admissions Policy below: