Registration for Admission

We offer places for 48 children to join our Nursery. Priority is given to Newton Prep families. It is assumed that Nursery children will want to continue up the school into Reception. The following year, we hold assessments and offer another 32 places for children to join Reception, making a full year group of 80 children (4 classes of 20 children in each). 

Families may move out of London and so we would typically have occasional places in other year groups. As well as our Reception assessments (which take place in the Autumn Term prior to the year in which they will start school), we also have Nursery playdate assessments. In addition, we run a formal assessment morning in February each year for those children who wish to join year groups other than Nursery or Reception. 

That is absolutely fine. The only factor to bear in mind is that admission to Reception is based on an assessment whereas entry into Nursery (because of the age of the children) is only by an observed playdate. But we will have at least 32 places available in Reception and that figure will not be reduced.

You might be relieved to know that we do not operate a ‘first come, first served’ policy. So, if you did not register your child at birth, that really is fine!  Please contact the Head of Admissions ([email protected]) about how to proceed with making an application. 

Assessments for 2024-2025 Late Entry

It is always worth contacting the Head of Admissions, Mrs Lucy Dickson, on [email protected] for registration and assessment at other times of year, depending on whether there are potential vacancies in the preferred year of entry.

Assessments for 2025 Entry

These will take place as follows:

• Nursery: playdate assessments will take place in November 2024.
• Reception: throughout the Autumn term 2024.
• Year 1 to Year 8: February 2025. Dates to be confirmed.

Please contact the Head of Admissions if you would like your child to be considered for a place.

There remains the possibility of assessments taking place outside the February assessment dates if we have occasional places in a particular year group.

Newton Prep is academically selective from Reception. The pitch and pace of our curriculum are ambitious, so we need to be sure that the children we offer places to will thrive and not struggle. The assessments are not designed to be intimidating but are rather a process by which we can make a judgement about their suitability for our school. 

Nursery Playdate

Children are invited to a Nursery playdate in the Autumn Term before the year of their entry so that we can assess whether we believe the children will flourish in our Nursery setting. Places are then offered in December, to start the following September. 

Provided children are meeting all of the expected developmental milestones, Newton Prep siblings will be given priority when applying for places in Nursery. Our intention when offering places is to ensure an even balance of boys and girls and an even spread of autumn, spring and summer birthdays. Children will need functioning English; we accept that children who are growing up as bi- or even tri-lingual may have a language deficit at this stage in their lives and we make allowances for this in our assessment. Some priority will be given to local families who will be able to manage the journey to school easily.

We operate a waiting list so that families who do not receive an initial offer might receive one later in the year. Parents are asked to stay in close contact with the Head of Admissions if they still wish to be considered for a Nursery place. If a child does not gain a place in the Nursery, parents are welcome to transfer their application for a place in Reception; parents should let the Head of Admissions know if this is their wish. A child admitted to the Nursery may expect to transfer to Reception the following September unless it becomes clear that such a course is not in the child’s best interests. Our Nursery is not a ‘stand-alone’ school; in other words, entry to Nursery assumes the parents’ interest in their child continuing their education at Newton Prep.

Reception Assessment 

The session will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour. It is a play-based session with some one-to-one time with a member of the Early Years teaching staff. We will also ask for references from any Nursery your child is currently attending. We have good relationships with many Nurseries, so their advice and guidance can be invaluable.

Assessment for places in Years 1 & 2

The children will come and spend a day at the school with current Newton Prep children. They will do reading, writing and maths assessments and teachers will watch them at play. Again, we will consider reports from current schools as this will help us to make our decision. 

Assessment for places in Years 3 - 8

Children will be invited to an assessment day in February. They will do assessments in Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. We also ask them to complete a written task. Reports from current schools are helpful.

We are proud of the Newton Bursary Fund as this enables a number of families to send their children to the school despite not being able to afford fees. Bursaries are awarded after a child has been assessed. The level of financial assistance is dictated by a means test. Bursaries are available for children entering the School from Year 3. 

Take me to the Bursaries page