In-year admissions

Most children start school at the beginning of reception or year 7, and you need to apply well in advance for these places.  In-year admissions is when you need a school place for your child at any other time during the school year. 

You can apply when:

• you have moved to (or within) Waltham Forest and need a school place 
• you want your child to move to another school in the same year group 

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and you want to change their school, contact the SEND Service by email to senteam@walthamforest.gov.uk or by telephone on 020 8496 6503 or 020 8496 6505.

Please read the documents below before submitting your application, to avoid any errors or delays. For information on how in-year applications can be made and how they will be dealt with from 1 September 2024 until 31 August 2025 please see the In-year policy below:

• How to register to use the application service (PDF)
• Help with completing the online application form (PDF)
• Online admissions application FAQs (PDF)
• In year policy (PDF)

We aim to process all applications for an in-year transfer within 10 school days. The school admissions service remains open during the school holidays. Admissions applications and email enquiries will continue to be processed.

Please note that if you are making an application between 1 July and 31 August and you require your child to start in the new academic year in September, please put the start date as 1 September when you are applying. Your application will be processed as soon as possible for your child to start at the beginning of the academic year.

The easiest way to apply is online through the in-year portal using the link below:

Please remember to send us the evidence in support of your application so your application is not delayed.

If you have any issues or receive an error message when completing your online application, please email admissions@walthamforest.gov.uk stating the issue with a copy of any error message so this can be dealt with as soon as possible.

PLEASE NOTE: We are only able to speak to the applicant regarding their admissions application, so please do not ask a family member or a friend to contact us on your behalf.  We will not be able to discuss an application with a family member or friend unless the applicant has given us their permission to do so in writing.

Alternatively, if you are unable to apply online, please download and complete the In-Year Common Application Form (iCAF)

The schools listed below would also like you to complete a SIF and/or CCP to support your child’s application for a place at their school.  This should be completed and returned directly to the school, or the address on the form.  Please visit the school website or see below for a copy of their SIF or CCP (click on the school’s name):

• Emmanuel Community School
• St Joseph's Infant and Junior Schools
• Our Lady and St. George's Primary School
• St Patrick's Catholic Primary School 

Some Waltham Forest schools process their own in-year application forms for children to be admitted to their school.  This means that you must apply directly to the school for a place and not to the Waltham Forest School Admissions Department.  If you wish to apply for one of these schools, please use the link below to go to their website, where you will find information on how to apply:

Primary schools

• Lime Academy Larkswood
• St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
• St Mary’s CofE Primary School
• St Saviour’s Church of England Primary School

Secondary Schools

• Chingford Foundation School
• Eden Girl’s School, Waltham Forest
• Highams Park School
• South Chingford Foundation School 

For all other schools in Waltham Forest, applications should be made using the local authority form above, preferably using our online process.