Admissions
Interested in a Nursery place for your child?
Places at our Nursery are for either 30 or 15 funded hours per week, 6 or 3 hours per day respectively, Monday to Friday. Morning places are from 8.45am to 11.45am. Afternoon places are 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Full-time places are from 8.45am to 3.15pm.
Generally, you are eligible for 15 hours, but you may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare. Please check the eligibility criteria by using the following link: 30 hours free childcare - GOV.UK.
Applications can be made at any time after your child’s 2nd birthday. To apply for a nursery place at Rushey Green Primary School please download, complete and return the application form which can be accessed by using the link below.
Nursery places are allocated to children within the nursery age range ( i.e. between 3 years and the start of the academic year in which they will be 5). We do not allocate places to children whose parents have delayed admission to reception class.
In line with Lewisham’s Admission Criteria, where there is over-subscription, priority is given to:
- Looked-after children: Children in public care, or being provided with accommodation by a local authority. Confirmation of a child’s looked-after status must be supplied by the allocated social worker or foster carer, along with a copy of the adoption order, care order or special guardianship order.
- Medical or social need: Children may be admitted to a school where they would not normally qualify for a place on the grounds of their, or their family’s, severe medical or social need. The application must be supported by a letter from a professional such as a doctor or a social worker.
- Siblings: Children whose brother or sister attends the school on the closing date for applications and still be on roll at Gordonbrock at the intended date of admission.
- Distance to School: If any places remain, unfilled priority will be offered to children who live closest to the school. Distance will be measured in a straight line using digitised mapping software.
Offers are made approximately 4 months before the September that a child would be due to start.
Unsuccessful applicants do not have the right of appeal but the child’s name can be placed on a waiting list.
Please note that a place in the Nursery does not guarantee a place in the Reception Class. You must apply separately at the appropriate time online to the Local Authority.
For more information about places in our nursery please contact: admin@rusheygreen.lewisham.sch.uk.
Starting Reception at the Start of September
Children born between 1st September 2021 and 31 August 2022 are due to start in a primary school in September 2026. Applications can be made from 1 September 2025 to 15 January 2026.
Lewisham Council co-ordinate applications for Reception class places in primary schools within the Lewisham Borough. Parents are advised to read Lewisham Council’s Applying to Start Primary School for information about how to apply, deciding which schools to apply for, admissions criteria and more.
To apply for a Reception class place for their child, parents should apply online directly to your home Local Authority (the borough where you live and pay council tax) at eAdmissions. For more information please see the document:
Parents should apply for six mainstream state primary schools, which can be in or outside the Lewisham borough. Do not include fee-paying or special needs schools on your application as they have a separate application process.
On the applications, parents must rank schools in order of preference. Parents are advised to use all six preferences and not restrict their application. As it is not always possible to offer every child a place at one of their preferred schools, parents are advised to research a range of schools, including the one closest to your home address. For more information about the preference system, visit Lewisham Council’s The preference system when applying for primary school places.
Some schools in the borough will be oversubscribed, where there is oversubscription priority is given to:
- Looked-after children: Children in public care , or being provided with accommodation by a local authority. Confirmation of a child’s looked-after status must be supplied by the allocated social worker or foster carer, along with a copy of the adoption order, care order or special guardianship order.
- Medical or social need: Children may be admitted to a school where they would not normally qualify for a place on the grounds of their, or their family’s, severe medical or social need. The application must be supported by a letter from a professional such as a doctor or a social worker.
- Siblings: Children whose brother or sister attends the school on the closing date for applications and still be on roll at Gordonbrock at the intended date of admission.
- Children of staff: Priority to children of staff will be given only where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, and/or the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
- Distance to School: If any places remain, unfilled priority will be offered to children who live closest to the school. Distance will be measured in a straight line using digitised mapping software.
Once parents have completed the online application they will receive an automated email confirming receipt of your application and a reference number. They will also be able to make any changes to your application up until the January deadline.
National offer day is 16 April 2026. Online applicants will get the result by email during the evening of the 16 April 2026 from the Local Authority.
You will need to accept your offer directly to the Local Authority by 30 April 2026. Offers should be accepted by logging into your account so it’s important to keep a record of your username and password.
Information about delaying or deferring a place is available on Lewisham Council’s Delaying when your child starts primary school.
Further information about the appeals process is also available on Lewisham Council’s Appeal against not getting a primary school place.
Are you interested in your child joining Rushey Green from another school or following a period of Elective Home Education (EHE)?
Once the school year has started, applications for places in Year 1-6 and Reception, should be made online directly to Lewisham Local Authority – for more information use the link below.
Transferring Your Child During the School Year
Offers are made in accordance with the published admissions criteria which can be found on Lewisham Council’s Website. Offers will be made to you directly from the Local Authority and they will inform the school of any offers made.
Once an offer has been made to you from the Local Authority the school will then contact you to arrange an induction interview with the Headteacher or another Senior Leader. They will ask for all relevant details concerning the child’s health, welfare and previous attainment. The parent/carer will be given the opportunity to ask any questions they might have about the school.
For more information and advice on admissions:
- Visit the Lewisham Council website.
- Speak to a member the Admissions and Appeals team on 0208 314 8282 (lines are open Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-1pm).
- Email the Admissions and Appeals Team schooladmissions@lewisham.gov.uk.
- For independent advice, you can contact ACE Education Advice on 0300 0115 142 (lines are open Monday-Wednesday, 10am-1pm) or visit their website.
Admissions for Pupils with SEND
Most children and young people with special educational needs can get the support they need in mainstream schools. However, some children need extra support through an education, health and care plan (EHCP).
There is a separate application process for children with an EHCP. For more information visit: School Admissions for Children with Special Educational Needs. Alternatively contact the Children with Complex Needs Service on 020 9049 1475 or via email to sen@lewisham.gov.uk.