Admissions

We’re delighted that you’re considering our Nursery for your child!

At Winston Way Academy, we provide a nurturing and stimulating early years environment, enhanced by our beautiful outdoor learning space. Children are encouraged to explore freely, with well-planned activities that support play-based learning and promote personal, social, and emotional growth.

Our curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity and build strong foundations for lifelong learning. We place great importance on creating a safe, inclusive space where every child feels valued and supported to reach their full potential.

We are proud of our multicultural community and celebrate the rich diversity of our pupils and families. This is reflected throughout our curriculum and school life, helping every child feel a sense of belonging.

By fostering creativity, independence, and a love of learning, we aim to prepare our children not just for school, but for life.

All applications are managed directly by the school, and we We can admit children to our Nursery in the school term after their third birthday if spaces are available.

Parents are entitled to 15 hours of free Early Years education for their child each week (i.e. 5 sessions of 3 hours/day ). 

Key Points:

• Children start our Nursery at the beginning of the academic year in September. We have one nursery intake per year. 
• Offers are made from mid-March each year based on the priority criteria detailed below.
• Applications received after mid-March will be considered only if spaces are available. Please note that we have one main intake per year in September. If any places become available during the year, they will be offered to children on the waiting list.

To apply for a nursery place, please complete the form link below to add your child to our waiting list.

Nursery Waiting List Form

Once submitted, your child’s name will be added to our waiting list, and we will contact you if a space becomes available. The information provided in the application is essential for us to process and offer a Nursery place.

🕒 Nursery Session Times

• Morning Session: 8:40 am – 11:40 am
• Afternoon Session: 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

You can apply for either session, but we cannot guarantee your preferred session will be available.

Due to the high volume of applications, we’re only able to contact families whose children have been offered a place. If you’d like to check on your application, feel free to call us at 020 8478 5626 or email office@winstonwayacademy.org.uk.

For full details, please refer to our Admissions Policy.

Priority Criteria

We follow the London Borough of Redbridge’s guidelines for nursery admissions:

1. Children in care or previously in care (e.g., adopted or under special guardianship).
2. Exceptional medical or social needs, supported by a qualified professional.
3. Siblings of children already attending the school (older siblings are prioritised).
4. All other applicants, with preference given to older children.

If there’s a tie within any category, we use the shortest walking distance from home to school (measured using a Geographic Information System). For flats, the distance is measured to the main entrance of the building. In the rare case of a tie, a random allocation system is used.

Please note: There is no statutory right to appeal nursery admissions decisions. Also, a place in our Nursery does not guarantee a place in the main school- you’ll need to apply separately through the London Borough of Redbridge Admissions and Awards.

Even if your child already attends our school nursery or has a sibling at Winston Way Academy, you must still apply for a Reception place with London Borough of Redbridge.

Applications for school places are managed by the Redbridge School Admissions, which handles all queries and concerns related to the admissions process. Please click here for further information and how to apply 

We have one main intake each year, at the beginning of the Autumn Term. Children typically start in Reception in the September following their 4th birthday. We warmly welcome prospective parents to book an appointment to visit and tour our school.

Parents are usually asked to complete preference forms during the Autumn Term of the year before their child is due to start school. Places are then allocated in the late Spring or early Summer Term. Each Reception class has a maximum intake of 90 children. If a child is not offered a place at their preferred school, parents have the right to appeal.

Once our intake is confirmed, we begin preparing to ensure every child has a happy and smooth transition into school life. In the Summer Term before starting, parents and children are invited to a ‘Stay and Play’ session. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our approach, ask questions, and meet the Reception teacher and support staff.

Additionally, our Reception team arranges home visits for each child. These take place in July or early September, helping to build familiarity and ease the transition into school.

All applications for Reception 2025 must be made online through the London Borough of Redbridge. Click here for further information on how to apply. 

⏰ The deadline for on-time applications was 11:59 PM on 15th January 2025.
If you missed this deadline, don’t worry — you can still submit a late application via the eAdmissions portal.

Admission Arrangements

Our school follows the London Borough of Redbridge Admission Arrangements for Reception admissions. For the 2025–2026 academic year, you can find all the key documents below:

•  Admissions Arrangements 2025–2026  - admission-arrangements-for-2025-2026.pdf
• Co-ordinated Primary Admissions Scheme - co-ordinated-primary-admissions-scheme-2025-2026-final-appendix-c.pdf
• Fair Access Protocol  - admission-arrangements-for-2025-2026.pdf
• Processes for Deferring Entry to Reception - Redbridge - Start your child at school later

Contact Redbridge Admissions

If you have any questions or need help with your application, you can contact the Redbridge Admissions team:

London Borough of Redbridge – Admissions and Awards
📍 Lynton House, 255–259 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1NN
📞 Phone: 020 8708 3121
📧 Email: admissions@redbridge.gov.uk

You can apply for a school place at Winston Way at any time. We occasionally have places in each year group when families move away from the area.  We follow the London Borough of Redbridge Admission Arrangements, as detailed above. You must apply for a place by contacting the London Borough of Redbridge Admissions and Awards Team. Please visit the following page https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/schools/primary-school-admissions/ for further information.  

If you have been offered a place at our school, Lynton House will send you a letter/email and you must respond within 5 days (from date of letter/email) to the school and to Lynton House. Your place may be offered to someone else if you do not do this. 

The admissions officer at Winston Way will contact you to arrange a meeting and request you to complete the school enrolment form ahead of the meeting.  At this meeting, the Admissions Officer will go through the form with you and clarify any necessary elements. Once this meeting is complete your child will be given their start date. 

If your child did not get into a Redbridge school you wanted, you can appeal to an independent panel, further information can be found at the following link https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/schools/school-appeals/

Admission Arrangements for the Academic year 2025-26

We follow the London Borough of Redbridge Arrangements. For the Academic year 2025-26, please click the links below for the relevant documents

admission-arrangements-for-2025-2026.pdf (redbridge.gov.uk)

Admission Arrangements for the Academic year 2026-27

We follow the London Borough of Redbridge Arrangements. For the Academic year 2026-2027. Admission arrangements for the academic year 2026-27 can be found here. This guide includes information on:

• arrangements for selecting the pupils who apply
• our oversubscription criteria (i.e. how places are offered if there are more applicants than places)
• an explanation of the process you need to follow to apply for a place at Walthamstow Primary Academy for your child.

London Borough of Redbridge co-ordinated Primary Admission scheme for 2026-27 can be found on their website, which includes information on:-

• arrangements for selecting the pupils who apply
• our oversubscription criteria (i.e. how places are offered if there are more applicants than places)
• an explanation of the process you need to follow to apply for a place at Walthamstow Primary Academy for your child.