Nursery admissions 2025

Coordination of admission to nursery in September 2025
The co-ordination of nursery admissions is with the purpose of a central system that demonstrates a fair and transparent admissions process, enabling children to access their statutory entitlement of 15 hours of educational provision and identifying those children who are without a nursery place.

Children will usually start nursery school or a nursery class attached to a primary school in the September following their third birthday. However, it is possible for eligible children to access a funded nursery place from the beginning of the term after their third birthday.

Before you apply

The Starting Nursery in Tower Hamlets booklet contains all the information you need on applying, including a step by step guide to making your online application.  

You can apply for up to three Tower Hamlets nurseries. 

There is no automatic right of transfer from the nursery class to the reception class in the same school, and attending a nursery class does not give any priority for admission to reception class at the same school.

Parents advice session

Join the the School Admissions Service Team and the Transitions Team for a parents advice session. Reserve your place (various dates).

How to apply

If your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 and you would like a nursery place for September 2025, you must apply online via the eadmissions portal. The closing date is midnight on 14 February 2025.

When you have completed and submitted your application you will receive an email confirmation. 

Application guidance

For guidance on completing an online application, please see Appendix B of the Starting Nursery in Tower Hamlets 2025 brochure.

If you are applying for a nursery place at a voluntary aided school, free school or academy, you must – as well as completing our online application – complete the school’s supplementary information form (SIF) if they have one. See a list of schools requiring SIFs.

Closing Date 

The closing date for nursery applications is 14 February 2025. All applications submitted before this date are considered equally, and are not processed on a first come first served basis.

Primary school admissions

Starting Reception in 2025

Pupils usually start primary school in the September following their fourth birthday. If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 this will be from September 2025. You must make an online application for a reception place, via eadmissions portal even if your child is already attending the school's nursery. 

All children are expected to start school in the reception year in September, if they will be five in that school year.

Deferring school entry means that a child begins school later than September, but still joins their own age-peer group. Complete the deferring entry form or get a form sent to you by emailing [email protected] 

There is no automatic right of transfer from the nursery class to the reception class in the same school, and attending a nursery class does not give any priority for admission to reception class at the same school.

Before you apply

The Starting Primary School in Tower Hamlets brochure contains all the  information you need on applying including a step by step guide to making your online applications, plus details of all Tower Hamlets primary schools. You must apply via the e-admissions portal. 

Closing date for making applications is midnight on 15 January 2025. 

To apply to schools where a SIF (Supplementary Information Form) is required please contact the school to complete this form.

If you miss the deadline you must still submit your late application on the eadmissions portal.

National offer day

Parents will be able to log into their account on eadmissions to view the outcome of their application on 16 April 2025.

All parents that applied for a Reception school place before 15 January 2025 will be sent an email with the outcome of their application on 16 April 2025. Parents will also be able to view the outcome of their application on the evening of 16 April 2025 by visiting the eadmissions portal.

Secondary school admissions

Starting Secondary school in September 2025

Please read the Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets booklet for useful information on the admission process.

If you live in Tower Hamlets and your child is in Year 6 (born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014) you will need to make an online application via eadmissions portal for them to transfer to secondary school in September 2025.

The closing date for making applications is midnight on 31 October 2024.

Email: [email protected]

National Offer Day 

Parents will be able to log into their account on eadmissions to view the outcome of their application on 3 March 2025. They will also receive an email, this is sent after 5pm.