If your child has a birthdate between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 – apply now for a place in our outstanding Nursery for 2025!
For more information contact Tania or Lindsay on 0207 485 2155 or Tania@eleanorpalmer.camden.sch.uk
Why choose our Nursery?
Our Nursery, as all school nurseries, is led by a qualified teacher supported by a fully trained nursery nurse and with additional support from a teaching assistant. A teaching qualification is not a requirement in non-school nursery settings, but we think this training informs our play-based tuition to give your child the early building blocks so important for future learning. In our case, our team are highly experienced all having taught for over 20 years and are still as enthusiastic and passionate as ever!
Nursery have their own activity-filled playground, with games and playthings changed daily and set-up to support early learning goals. We use his space alongside the classroom throughout the year and provide outdoor-weather wear for those colder, wetter days!
We offer a full-time (9-3.30pm) Nursery for 26 children and it is fully inclusive. Children come to assembly once a week, may play alongside Reception in the ‘big playground’, can access learning resources from older classes and become imbued in our special ethos. We think Nursery at EP is a great foundation for their learning journey.
Parents are very welcome to be a part of settling-in and then to contribute to Nursery life – be that supporting one of our many trips, reading or bringing something special in to share. We always start the year with an evening party to welcome our families!
We manage our own Nursery admissions and we strictly abide by Camden’s admissions criteria. Please note that places in our nursery are offered with these criteria, and not on a first-come, first-served basis.
To apply for our Nursery complete the Nursery application form and email to tania@eleanorpalmer.camden.sch.uk . If emailing the form, please ensure that you receive confirmation of receipt.
It is important to note that a place in our Nursery does not guarantee a place in Reception.
Applying for a Reception place
Admissions into our Reception class are managed by Camden Education Authority. Eleanor Palmer is a very popular and over subscribed school. We have many more applications than places and so the local authority have to apply admissions criteria as follows:
Admissions Criteria
Children are admitted in the following order:
- Children for whom the school has been named on a ‘Statement of Special Educational Needs’;
- Children who are, or have previously been, in UK public care;
- Brothers and sisters of children already at the school;
- Children who have an exceptional medical or social need, which would be helped by attending our particular school. This must be substantiated by appropriate professionals and is considered by a local authority panel;
- Children whose parent is a qualified teacher working at the school for two years or more at the time of application;
- Children who live closest to the school, measured as the crow flies from the centre of the school site.
There is no fixed catchment area as the places allocated on the 6th criteria depend on the places allocated through the first 5 criteria.
Please note that it is very important to us that children are genuinely part of our community and are living permanently at the address given on their admission form. We work very closely with Camden admissions and will fully investigate any case where a parent is thought to have supplied false or inappropriate information – for example a short-term rented address or the address of a relative to try to gain an advantage in obtaining a place in our school.
Application dates
The closing date for Reception is the middle of January preceding the school year (September –August) in which your child becomes 5. Apply through eadmissions HERE
The closing date for Nursery applications is the end of February for a September start. We aim to fill our Nursery each September but, should places arise, accept in-year applications for children who have turned 3 years old in the preceding term.
Places, for a September start, are allocated for Reception in the April by Camden Admissions.
Applying for a place in Years 1-6
Admissions for Years 1 through to 6 (or applications made for the Reception class after the September point of entry) are made directly to the school and the are managed using the Camden admission criteria listed above. Please use the application form linked HERE and email to Tania@eleanorpalmer.camden.sch.uk . Your child will then be added to the waiting list for the relevant year group. We welcome families staying in touch to inform us of continued interest each year. We do not require any supporting documentation (i.e. birth certificate and proof of address) at the point of application, but will ask for these as a condition of offer.
Visit us
Parents are welcome to register their child from the age of 2. However, length of time on the waiting list does not take priority over the admissions criteria.
We encourage prospective parents to come and visit the school at the time of registration. Our pupils will give you a full tour, and there will be a chance to meet our Co-Heads Natalie Stevenson and Sally Hill.
We understand that having the opportunity to visit our school, to hear from our Heads, and to ask questions is a vital part of making a decision around application. We have Open Days each term during which our Heads will tell you more about the school and the application process. You can also see our school in action as our children will give you a guided tour! Apologies, but we are unable to accommodate adhoc visits outside of Open Days.
Please email lindsay@eleanorpalmer.camden.sch.uk or ring the school office on 0207 485 2155 to book onto a tour.
