Visit Cecil Gowing
We warmly welcome families who are considering Cecil Gowing Infant and Nursery School for their child. A visit is a lovely way to meet our staff, explore our classrooms and outdoor spaces, and get a feel for life at our school. Please contact the school office to arrange a visit
Each autumn, we also hold open events for families whose children may join Reception the following September. Children and parents can explore the school together, ask questions and, where possible, meet some of our older pupils. Details of upcoming events are published on our website.
Applications for a Reception place are made through your home local authority. Families living in Norfolk can apply through Norfolk County Council’s school admissions service. If you live outside Norfolk, please apply through the council for the area where you live, even if Cecil Gowing is your preferred school.
Applying for a Reception place
For children starting Reception in September 2027, the closing date for an on-time application is 15 January 2027. Norfolk County Council publishes the admission arrangements, including how places are allocated if more families apply than there are places available.
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan, please speak to their EHCP coordinator about the admissions process.
When will my child start school?
Most children start Reception in the September after their fourth birthday. If your child is offered a place, you can ask for them to start later in the school year or attend part time until they reach compulsory school age. Please contact us if you would like to discuss these arrangements. You can also read Norfolk County Council’s guidance on when children start school.
If you are considering a start in the September after your child’s fifth birthday, please read the council’s guidance and contact its admissions team. Starting in Reception at that point requires a request for admission outside the child’s normal age group.
If you would like your child to join Cecil Gowing at another point in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, please see Norfolk County Council’s guidance on moving schools during the school year. You are welcome to contact us to arrange a visit.
Joining during the school year
If your application for a school place is unsuccessful, you can find information about your right to appeal on Norfolk County Council’s school admission appeals page.
Acorn Class Nursery
Our Acorn Class nursery welcomes children aged two to four. Nursery applications are handled separately from school admissions, and a nursery place does not automatically secure a Reception place. Please visit our nursery page for information about sessions and admissions, or contact the school office to ask about availability and arrange a visit.
