Nursery Tours
Nursery tour dates for September 2026 entry will take place on:
Monday 12th Janaury at 9:45am
Wednesday 21st January at 9:45am
Thursday 5th February at 9:45am
Admissions Criteria 2026/27
The following criteria are applied to each application in order to allocate places.
Hertfordshire Education Authority – admissions criteria:
- Children in Public Care (children looked after) and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or a special guardianship order).
- Sibling: Children who have a sibling on the roll of the school at the time of application (Reception through to Year 5). In Year admissions: the sibling may be in the school’s final year as long as they will still be in attendance at the time of admission.
- Children of staff: Children of staff directly employed by the school (from 2022).
- Nearest School: Children for whom it is their nearest community or voluntary-controlled school or an own admitting school or academy using Hertfordshire’s admission rules.
- Distance: Children who live nearest to the school.
For further information and admission rules, please see the documents below or go to www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Reception Admissions
Children start Reception full-time in the Autumn Term (Setpember).
Applications for Reception places at Northgate Primary School are managed by Hertfordshire County Council’s Education Department. If you live in Hertfordshire and are registered with a Hertfordshire GP, you should automatically receive information about the admissions process. Applications must be made online via www.hertfordshire.gov.uk. Support is available from the school office if required.
Children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 are eligible to apply for a Reception place. Applications open on 3 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026. Offers will be made on 16 April 2026 and must be accepted by 23 April 2026.
If you require further information or advice regarding Reception admissions at Northgate Primary School, please contact the school on 01279 652376 or email admissions@northgate.herts.sch.uk, using ‘ENTRY Northgate 2026’ as the subject line.
Nursery Admissions September 2026
Children who are 3 years old (birthdays between 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023) will start Northgate Nursery in the Autumn term 2026.
From September 2026, depending upon the funding you receive, you will be able to choose from the options as shown in the table below.
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30 hours funded:
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08:35-15:20pm (Monday-Thursday) and 08:35-11:35am (Friday), with the option to add the Friday afternoon session for an extra cost
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2½ days:
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Option a) Monday/Tuesday 08:35 to 15:20pm and Wednesday morning 08:35 to 11:35am (161/2 hours* see note below), with the option to add the Wednesday afternoon session for an extra cost, or
Option b) Thursday/Friday 08:35 to 15:20pm and Wednesday afternoon 12:20 to 15:20pm (161/2 hours*see note below)
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Mornings:
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08:35-11:35am (15 hours per week)
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Afternoons:
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12:20-15:20pm (15 hours per week)
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All children are required to attend a minimum of 5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions per week which are fully funded through the 15-hour Nursery funding. Children must attend 5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions, and parents/carers can add additional sessions where available. The additional session can be paid through childcare support funding if eligible (for working parents), for those not eligible the sessions can be purchased 1/2 termly in advance at a cost of £18 per session.
Please note: Full day sessions have been extended to allow for a lunch break. This will mean your child will be in school for 16.5 hours per week, rather than the usual 15 hours. Whilst you will continue to receive the Early Years Funding of 15 hours, in order to cover the additional 1.5 hours per week, we will need to request a payment of £9.00 per child per week, payable in advance half termly. However, if you have a 30 hours code and are not utilising all the other 15 hours in another setting we can claim the additional 1.5 hours on your behalf.
Children are able to bring a packed lunch from home or parents can purchase a hot school lunch. (Please click here for the current price and more information).
Applications
Applications should be made directly to the school using the online application form below by 5pm on Friday 6th March 2026. Places will be offered the week commencing Monday 16th March and the deadline for accepting places is Friday 24th April 2026. Please note that parents will need to apply for a Reception place the following year even if your child is admitted to our Nursery class.
Nursery applications should be made directly to the school using the online application form below by 5pm on Friday 6th March 2026. Places will be offered the week commencing Monday 16th March and the deadline for accepting places is Friday 24th April 2026. Please note that parents will need to apply for a Reception place the following year even if your child is admitted to our Nursery class.
Should you require information or advice regarding applications to Nursery at Northgate, please contact the school directly on 01279 652376 or email admissions@northgate.herts.sch.uk (putting 'ENTRY Nursery 2026' in the subject line).
Current Nursery Admissions 2025/26
Please contact the School Office for further information.
In-Year Admissions
The school has opted into Hertfordshire County Council’s In-year coordination service. Parents/carers can make an online In-Year application via the Hertfordshire County Council’s website www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions or contact the Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 4043 for a paper application form. Parents/carers should return the application form direct to the County Council.
The County Council will write to you with the outcome of your application and if you have been unsuccessful will include registration details to enable you to log in and appeal online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/schoolappeals.
Secondary School Transfers
During the autumn term of year 6, parents and their children are able to visit local secondary schools and then make an application for a place at the school of their preference. Every parent must complete the application online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk and for most schools a SIF (Secondary Transfer Form) must be completed and returned to the school you are applying to. The SIF forms are available via the secondary school's website.