Frequently Asked Questions

I have returned the Registration Form to the School. What will happen next?

We will acknowledge receipt of the form and registration fee and your child will be added to the waiting lists, which are never closed. Every applicant is put on the waiting list.

During the Autumn Term prior to the September in which your child is due to start we will invite parents and child into school for an informal interview with the Head. These interviews will be allocated by date of registration on a first come, first served basis. However, preference is given to siblings and children of old Millhillians and old Belmontians.

Do we need to register for the other schools in the Foundation?

No, your form registers your child for each school (Grimsdell, Belmont and Mill Hill) in the Foundation.

How soon should we register?

It is important to register as soon as possible as places are allocated by date of registration.

Is the school oversubscribed?

We have more applicants than places available. We strongly recommend that parents register with more than one school.

How many places are available in Nursery and Reception?

There are approximately 32 places available in Nursery, 16 in the morning and 16 in the afternoon.

A further 16 places are offered in Reception, who together with the Nursery pupils make up three Reception classes.

If my child has a September birthday when can he/she start?

The entry cut off date to a year group is 31st August. Your child must be 3+ for entry into the Nursery class and 4+ for entry into Reception on the 1st September, i.e. if he or she is born on 3rd September they would be one of the oldest in the year group.

Is there anything we can do to prepare our child?

Parents and children entering for Nursery or Reception are invited into school for a 'taster' visit in the Summer Term prior to their September entry. After the visit talk to your child about joining the school, explaining all the different exciting things they will be doing. A Nursery child must be fully toilet trained. It is an advantage if a Reception child is able to dress and undress themselves, put their shoes on, eat with a knife and fork, hold a pencil correctly and recognise some letter sounds and numbers.

Do children have automatic entry to the Prep School, Belmont?

Grimsdell pupils are assessed for Belmont using the same test as outside applicants. There is a close liaison between the Grimsdell staff and the Head of the Lower School at Belmont in order to ensure that Belmont can meet a child's needs and to ensure that Belmont is the right place for that child to move onto. The majority of Grimsdell pupils move onto Belmont.