Admissions

Determined Admission Arrangements 2026-2027

Planned Admission Number (PAN) - 60

Where more applications are received than places available, the following oversubscription criteria will be used to determine the allocation of places:

1. Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or a special guardianship order. This includes children who have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.

2. Children with a sibling already attending the preferred school and who will still be attending at the time of admission.

3. Children of Staff – Where the member of staff has been employed at Whiston Willis Primary Academy for 2 or more years at the time of application, or the member of staff was recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Parent(s)/carer(s) must state the employee’s name on their admission application form. Details will be validated by the school.

4. Distance from the child’s home to school measured in a straight line. Those living nearest the school have priority.

Admissions to Whiston Willis Primary Academy are managed through Knowsley Local Authority. Please contact Knowsley Admission Department for further information 0151-443-5143. Parents and carers are very welcome to visit our school and see what we have to offer. You can gain information and guidance on this by telephoning Knowsley Admissions Team on 0151-443-5143.

Reception class

Please note that there is no automatic transfer from our Nursery to reception class. Attending or nursery class does not give your child priority for a place in our reception class. If you want a place in our reception class, you must complete the formal Local Authority application form during the relevant application period. Application booklets are also available from school at the beginning of the school year on request.

(If you live in another borough, contact your home authority for details of where to apply.)

Applications at other times

If you are moving to this area and are interested in a place for your child, please get in touch with the school. There is an In-Year application form to complete which gives you notes and contact details. This is also available from Knowsley School admissions Team by telephoning 0151-443-3372.

I​N YEAR SCHOOL ADMISSION INFORMATION

Nursery Admissions

We take pupils into the nursery on a termly basis – usually the term following the child’s third birthday. There is information which includes the application form available from the school or on the Knowsley Council website:

https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/education-and-schools/school-admissions/applying-admission-school-nursery-classes 

(You can use this form wherever you live.)

Please note, having a nursery place at Whiston Willis does not guarantee a Reception place. All Reception places are allocated under the school's admissions policy and oversubscription criteria (please see this page for more information).

Admission Arrangements

When your child is allocated a place at our school, there is a full induction process. All new Nursery and Reception parents are invited to attend induction events. These will give you an opportunity to meet teaching staff and to find out all about our school. Every new parent will receive a comprehensive pack containing all the necessary information. All new Nursery children will receive a visit at their home setting by members of the Nursery staff. Reception children are invited to sessions during the summer term prior to them starting, where they will work and play in small groups with their new teacher so they feel more secure and happy when they start school.

For children who are new to Whiston Willis during an academic year, who may have transferred from another school, there is a full induction programme involving both parents and children. New parents will meet with the Head Teacher and Learning Mentor to discuss concerns, expectations and gain an insight into any needs that your child may have.