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Assessment

We invite every child who registers for a place to attend our assessment sessions.

We are very aware some small children may be daunted when going into a new environment and this is natural.

We do all we can to ensure that every child can become familiar with the Pelican School and our staff, prior to our informal assessment.

Children with a thirst for knowledge and a keenness to solve problems do well at the Pelican. We are interested in each child’s all-round development and learning characteristics.

Parents and carers of children with special educational needs should discuss their application with us before the assessment dates.

Nursery and Reception

Prospective Nursery children of similar ages are assessed in very small groups. Experienced staff support the children as they play, read stories, use the construction equipment and even hold tea parties!

Reception assessments are similar to those for Nursery, with some emergent literacy and numeracy tasks included in these activities.

Sessions last around 50 minutes.

Years 1 and 2

Children spend a morning with children in the same year group.

We look at the whole child, assessing a broad range of personal, physical, mathematical and literacy skills appropriate to their level of development.

The children enjoy snack in school and time outside in the playground with the other pupils.

When are the admission sessions?

For Nursery, all children will be invited to an optional play session on Friday 8 January 2027. Admission sessions will take place between Monday 11 and Friday 22 January 2027. (a one-hour session on one of these dates).

For Reception, all children will be invited to an optional play session on Friday 6 November 2026. Admission sessions will take place between Monday 9 and Friday 13 November 2026. (a one-hour session on one of these dates).

For Year 2, admission sessions will take place on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 January 2027, with children joining us for the morning on one of these dates.