WELCOME!

We want to say a huge welcome to you, your child and your whole family! If you are joining us for the first time or are already part of our Southwood school community, we hope you feel welcomed, informed and part of our school very soon.

Children Starting School in 2026

Application Process

Applications for a Year R place open on 1st November 2025 and close on the 15th January 2026.

You will be notified on 16th April 2026 of your allocation, if you submit your application within the above deadline.

Further information can be found by visiting the Hampshire County Council website here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions/applicationprocess/yearR

County Admissions Team Children Services Department The Castle Winchester Hampshire SO23 8UG

Tel: 0300 555 1377 Email: admissions.team@hants.gov.uk http://www.hants.gov.uk/ad-applyonline

School Tours

School tours have now been completed.

What to do when you have been offered your space ...

To accept the place at our school, you will need to bring your child's birth certificate or passport to evidence their date of birth. You will also need to provide proof of address which can be a recent household bill or bank statement. This will need to be brought into school by Wednesday 29th April, between 9.30am - 14.00. 

Once the offer has been accepted, these registration forms will need to be completed by Friday 15th May:

Pupil Registration Information – Southwood Infant School Pupil Registration Information 2026-27 – Fill in form

Permissions and Getting Home arrangements - Southwood Infant School Permissions and Getting Home Arrangements 2026-27 – Fill in form

What happens Next?

We offer a series of events during the Summer Term, which take place in order to ensure a smooth transition into school:

• During the summer term, our Early Years teachers visit your child in their current setting.
• Your child is invited to attend our ‘Stay and Play’ sessions, taking place on Thursday 2nd and Thursday 9th July 2026.
• During the 'Stay and Play' sessions, parents are invited to attend an information meeting taking place at the school.
• There will be a phonics/reading information meeting taking place in September, a date will be confirmed shortly.
• The week before your child starts school, your child’s class teacher offers a home visit.

Home visits will take place in early September and dates will be confirmed shortly. Home visits enable us to get to know you and your child really well before they start school. 

Children will then start coming into school from (date tbc) starting with the morning only, then including lunchtime and then full time from date tbc. 

The information meeting on Thursday 9th July 2026

The presentation can be found below. 

At this meeting we will talk about:

• The Year R Team
• A typical day in Year R
• The process of a Home Visit in September, and how you can sign up for this/when you will find out your date and time for this visit. 
• Second hand school uniform and will have some available to buy
• How we will organise the children into their classes.
• The Summer Activity Pack we are giving to your child. 
• Any questions you may have about the induction process.
• Hear from other organisations including our governors, FSIS PTA, Education Catering and Get Active.