Admissions
How to apply for a place at our school
Applying for your child to start Reception in September 2026
The admissions window opened on 10th November 2025 and closes on 15th January 2026.
Please apply via Essex County Council:
Admissions | Essex County Council
Please do not send applications for Reception 2026 admission directly to the school as these will not be processed.
Applications for the 2025/2026 Academic Year (mid-year applications)
Applications should be made directly to the school, using the application form below. Do NOT apply directly to Essex County Council.
Once we receive your application, we will respond to you within 10 school days. This does not include weekends or school holidays. In our response we will tell you whether we can offer you a place or not.
Please e-mail your completed application to admissions@chapelhillprimary.essex.sch.uk or drop a hard copy into the school office.
Important Information
* If your child is new to the United Kingdom, please ensure you provide their Immigration Share Code at the time of application, so that their immigration status can be checked. Please also supply proof of address (Tenancy Agreement, Council Tax bill or proof of exchange of contracts clearly stating the new address are acceptable). Regrettably, applications cannot be processed without this.
* If your application for a place at Chapel Hill Primary School is as a result of a house move (within the UK), please ensure you attach proof of the new address at the time of application (Tenancy Agreement, Council Tax bill or proof of exchange of contracts clearly stating the new address are acceptable). Regrettably, applications cannot be processed without this.
Once your application has been processed, you will receive a letter from the school via e-mail, informing you if a place can be offered or not (this can take up to 10 working days). If a place is not available, you will automatically be added to our waiting list.
In the event of oversubscription, places will be allocated using the following criteria in the order given:
- Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children;
- Children with a sibling* attending the school;
- Children of staff, where the member of staff has been employed by the Lee Chapel Multi-Academy Trust 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;
- Other children by straight line distance.
* A relevant sibling is a child who has a brother, sister, adopted brother or sister or step-brother or step-sister living in the same family unit, in the same family household and address, who attends Chapel Hill Primary School & Nursery (in Reception to Year 5). Biological and adopted siblings who attend Chapel Hill Primary School & Nursery (in Reception to Year 5) will also be treated as siblings, irrespective of place of residence. Children residing in the same household as part of an extended family, such as cousins, will not be treated as siblings.
In the event of oversubscription within any of the above criteria, priority will be determined by straight line distance from home to school, those living closest being given the highest priority.
In the event of a tie for the last place to be offered (i.e. more than one child with exactly the same postcode and distance from school), an independent member of Essex County Council, who does not work in Admissions, will pick a name "out of a hat".
Application for a Nursery Place
Application for a School Place