The Russell School

Reception & Nursery Admissions

Applications for September 2025

If your child was born between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021; your child is due to start primary school in September 2025.

You must submit your online application before the closing date on 15 January 2025 

via https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/actweb/education/Admissions/startpage

Reception Open Days for Admission 2025

Our Reception open days for prospective parents of children applying to join the school in September 2025 will take place on:

  • Friday 27 September 9:30am
  • Wednesday 2 October 9:30am
  • Thursday 17 October 9:30am
  • Tuesday 5 November 1:30pm
  • Monday 18 November 1:30pm 
  • Thursday 5 December 9:30am
  • Thursday 9 January 2025 1:30pm

Come and meet Claire Pitt, Headteacher and The Russell School Early Years team for a tour of the school. Please call the school office to book a place. 

If you are unable to attend any of the dates, please call the school office who will be happy to arrange another time for you to visit.

Starting Nursery at The Russell School September 2025

Children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 will be eligible to start in the Nursery class of a Hertfordshire school in September 2025.

The application form can be found below. Please return completed forms directly to the school not to School Admissions. Applications open 27 January 2025

Children can take up a free 15-hour place in our school Nursery in the September after their third birthday. We offer 30 hours childcare, allowing children to attend Nursery for a total of 30 hours per week, from 9am to 3pm each day. 

Working families who meet certain eligibility criteria can claim an additional 15 hours of free education and childcare a week - 30 hours in total.  You can check your eligibility for the 30 hours through:

Apply for 30 hours free childcare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

How to apply:

Applications open: 27 January 2025

The closing date is 3 March 2025.  Some schools may still have places available after this date - check with the school directly.

Offers made: 10 March 2025

Deadline to accept: 21 March 2025

Our Nursery open mornings for prospective parents of children applying to join the school in September 2025 will take place on:

  • Thursday 24 October 9:30am
  • Friday 15 November 9:30am
  • Friday 6 December 9:30am 
  • Wednesday 8 January 2025 9:30am
  • Tuesday 21 January 9:30am
  • Monday 10 February 9:30am

COMPLETE A NURSERY APPLICATION FORM HERE

You can apply to more than one school but must send each school an individual application form. Your application must go directly to the school, not Hertfordshire Schools Admissions.

For more information about applying for a Nursery place or the early education entitlement, please click on the link below. All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours of early education each week for 38 weeks of the year.  

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/childcare-and-advice-for-parents/free-early-education-and-childcare/childcare-and-free-early-education.aspx

Enter the full website