Admissions Questions, Answered Straight
These are the questions parents actually ask us: on visits, on the phone and on the way out of open days. We answer them plainly. If yours isn't here, use the enquiry form and we'll answer it within 24 hours.
Ages, Year Groups and Starting
What ages do you take?
Daffodil Preparatory School takes boys and girls aged 5 to 11, across Years 1 to 6 (Key Stages 1 and 2). Daffodil Nursery, on the same site, takes children from age 2 to 5, so a child can be with us continuously from 2 to 11.
When can my child start Year 1?
Your child must be 5 by the start of the academic year to enter Year 1. If they're younger, Daffodil Nursery takes children from age 2 and follows the EYFS (the national framework for early years), with government-funded hours available for eligible families.
How does my child move from Daffodil Nursery into the school?
Naturally. The nursery shares a site with the school, so children grow up around the building, staff and rhythms they'll move into. Nursery families still complete the school application, and the Year 1 age rule applies: 5 by the start of the academic year.
When are the start dates?
Children can start in September or during the school year. You tell us your intended start when you enquire and choose the start term within the application form. In-year starters follow the same five-step journey as everyone else.
Joining and Applying
Can my child join partway through the year?
Yes. We accept in-year admissions, and places are currently available in all year groups. The process is the same five steps as a September start: enquiry, visit, application, assessment, then offer and registration. Because classes never exceed 15, children joining mid-year settle quickly.
Is the assessment an entrance exam?
No. There's no pass-or-fail entrance test. The assessment exists to understand your child's current level, academically and in their Qur'an reading, so they start in the right groups from the first morning. We consider every application, and the assessment shapes support, not selection.
What happens if a year group is full?
We keep a waiting list and contact you as soon as a place opens in your child's year group. You can also appeal in writing to the headteacher. Right now, though, places are available in every year group, so ask before assuming a wait.
What documents do I need to apply?
Three things: your child's passport (photo page), their birth certificate, and a recent proof of your home address. You upload them within the online application form, and clear phone photos are fine. If you're missing one, save the form and finish once you have it.
Fees and Costs
How much are the fees?
We publish our complete fee list on the Fees page: VAT-inclusive annual totals, the £100 registration fee, the sibling discount and payment by three termly instalments. No phone call needed, because every number is there in plain text.
What uniform will my child need, and what does it cost?
The full uniform list, including PE kit, is on the uniform page. School jumpers and cardigans come through the school office, which can also tell you current prices for anything you need before your child starts, so there are no surprises in the first week.
School Life and Faith
How big are the classes?
No class at Daffodil has more than 15 children. That cap is deliberate: it's what allows regular one-to-one reading assessments, weekly literacy and numeracy quizzes, and parent–teacher meetings every half term, so no child's progress goes unnoticed.
Is the food halal?
Yes. All food at school is halal. Faith runs through the whole day here: every salah falling within school hours is prayed in congregation in our on-premise mosque, and mornings begin with adhkar and du'as.
What happens during Ramadan?
The school timetable adjusts for Ramadan, and the school closes for the last ten days, protecting the nights that matter most for family worship. It's part of running a school around the Islamic year rather than squeezing the Islamic year around school.
What care is available outside school hours?
The school day runs 8:25am–3:30pm, and around it we offer after-school provision including Homework Club, plus Debate Club for Key Stage 2, and a holiday Summer School. Current clubs, times and details are on the wraparound care page.
Support and Standards
Do you accept children with SEND?
Yes. We consider every application, including from children with special educational needs and disabilities, and those with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan). Tell us about your child's needs early, ideally at enquiry, so we can talk honestly about the support we can offer. Our SENCO is the headteacher, Stephen Montford.
What did your last inspection say?
Our full inspection history is set out plainly on our Inspections & Standards page. It covers the September 2025 Ofsted outcome, including the Good judgements for behaviour and personal development, and our move to the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).
Visits and Enquiries
How do I book a visit?
Through the Book a Visit page, where you choose from set slots. Visits are individual rather than group tours, and the headteacher hosts each one personally. You're welcome to bring your child. Prefer the phone? Call 020 4539 9737 during office hours.
How quickly will you reply to my enquiry?
Within 24 hours. That's a published promise, not an aspiration. Every enquiry through the form, by email or by phone gets a reply from our enquiry team within one working day.
Still Deciding?
The honest next step is to see the school. Or just ask us the question that's stopping you.