DUCKS Infants' School: Pre-Reception (3+), Reception (4+) to Year 2 (6+)

DUCKS is an independent, co-educational Kindergarten and Infants' School and forms part of Dulwich College. Attendance is full-time during term time only, with the principal point of entry at the start of the academic year in September.

Applying for a place

Pre-Reception (3+): Children continuing their DUCKS journey from the Kindergarten make up approximately half of the pupils in Pre-Reception. Each year, the remaining 15-20 places are offered to our external applicants via the waiting list. To apply for September 2028 entry, please contract the Registrar.

Reception (4+): We grow to three forms in Reception (4+), and each year approximately 25-30 external children join us. If you would like to register for a place in Reception (4+) for September 2027 entry, please apply by following the link below.

Apply Now

Interested in Year 1 (5+) or Year 2 (6+)?

We occasionally have a small number of chance vacancies available in Years 1 and 2. If you would like to apply for a place, please contract the Registrar.

We are very happy with DUCKS for both our girls. They are happy and we see them jump out of bed to get ready for school. The teachers are incredible, very devoted and we can't thank them enough. Thank you for looking after our children so well - Parent

For the majority of boys, having performed strongly at their assessment, there will be a guaranteed place into Year 3 at Dulwich College, in addition to their place at DUCKS.

DUCKS A Day in the Life

DUCKS children perform in play — DUCKS: A Day in the Life

Follow our youngest pupils as they learn inside and outside the classroom.

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Visit Us

We warmly invite you to visit the Infants' School. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover more about the vibrant community of young learners we nurture here at DUCKS.

Visits are primarily for families looking for entry in 2027 but those looking ahead to future entry points are also very welcome.

Parent tours

We hold small-group tours each week with the Head of DUCKS, Jo Parker.

Reserve a Place

Open Mornings

Friday 15 May 2026 9.00am and 10.00am
Saturday 17 October 2026 8.45am and 10.00am

Reserve a Place

Safeguarding Policy

All visitors to the College, including prospective parents, are asked to read our Safeguarding Policy.

Apply for a Place

Registration for Reception (4+) entry in September 2027 is now open.

Apply Now

The application fee is £150 and is non-refundable.

To complete the application form you will need the following:

A recent photograph of your child
Your child's most recent nursery or school report
Details of any medical condition  (if applicable)
Details of any Special Educational Needs (SEN) or learning support including speech and language therapy (if applicable)
A debit or credit card to pay the registration fee

New users

To use our Admissions Portal to register for an event or submit an application form for the first time you will need to set up a user account.

Complete an application form

Existing users

If you have registered to attend an event since April 2026 or registered for a child previously you will already have created an account. Please sign in before continuing.

To complete a new application form please select 'Add New Applicant'. If you are re-applying for the same child please do not edit their 'past application', instead select 'Add New Applicant'.

You will then find links to events and additional forms specific to your child's application in your 'Checklist'.

Key Dates

Entry to Pre-Reception (3+)

Early Years	Date of Birth	Waiting List Status
Pre-Reception (3+) 2026	01/09/2022 – 31/08/2023	Closed
Pre-Reception (3+) 2027	01/09/2023 – 31/08/2024	Closed
Pre-Reception (3+) 2028	01/09/2024 – 31/08/2025	Please contact Registrar

Entry to Reception (4+) in September 2027

Entry Procedure Overview
Age of Applicant	For boys and girls born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023
Registration deadline	Friday 6 November 2026
4+ Assessment Dates	Saturday 21 November 2026 (children born between 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023) Saturday 5 December 2026 (children born between 1 March 2023 to 31 August 2023)
4+ Offers	Week commencing 18 January 2027
4+ Offer Holder Tour	Monday 25 January 2027
4+ Acceptance Deadline	Friday 29 January 2027, midday

Applicants’ school/nursery will be contacted directly for a confidential report in November

Entry to Year 1 (5+) in September 2027

Entry Procedure Overview
Age of Applicant	For boys and girls born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022
Registration	Please contact Registrar

Entry to Year 2 (6+) in September 2027

Entry Procedure Overview
Age of Applicant	For boys and girls born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
Registration	Please contact Registrar

Entrance Procedure

We know that every child is different, and we aim to welcome boys and girls to DUCKS who will truly enjoy and grow within our exceptional setting, making the most of everything we offer. With this in mind, we take time to get to know each child through a visit/assessment that helps us understand their potential as well as their approach to learning.

Pre-Reception (3+) Entrance Procedure

Places are offered strictly in order of when families register on the waiting list. Before an offer is made, your child will be invited to attend a Stay and Play session during the school day, where they will join a small group of children in one of our Early Years' classrooms to familiarise themselves with our school. The children are free to move between different fun activity areas and there will also be small group activities led by staff, such as story time or singing songs. At the same time, our friendly EYFS team will be able to observe each child's readiness for learning.

Offers are made during the Michaelmas term prior to the year of entry.

Successful applicants are offered a place subject to the DUCKS Standard Terms and Conditions.

Reception (4+) Entrance Procedure

Your child will be invited to attend an assessment session on a Saturday morning in November or December.

During the assessment, our friendly and experienced teachers and Early Years Practitioners will help the children settle before inviting them to spend approximately half an hour in one of our Early Years classrooms, engaging in activities within a stimulating learning environment. These activities will be similar to those already familiar to the children from their current Nursery settings.

Our teachers will observe both the children’s levels of engagement and how they interact and play alongside their peers, to ensure they would thrive within our current Pre-Reception cohort.

Successful applicants are offered a place subject to the DUCKS Standard Terms and Conditions.

Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+) Entrance Procedure

Your child will be invited to attend an assessment session during the school day. Assessments will last approximately 90 minutes and will be led by a member of the DUCKS Leadership Team. The children will join the teachers in the classroom and be invited to take part in activities similar to those they are already familiar with from their current school setting, including numeracy, phonics, and reading.

Successful applicants are offered a place subject to the DUCKS Standard Terms and Conditions.

Discover More

Two toddlers digging plants in raised flower bed

Contact the Registrar

The DUCKS Registrar, Mrs Jenni Farnall, is responsible for dealing with all admission enquiries to DUCKS and for the administration of the entry procedures for the Kindergarten and Infants’ School.

Please contact her if you have any queries:

Telephone: 020 8693 1538

ducksregistrar@dulwich.org.uk

DUCKS Prospectus

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In This Section

DUCKS Infants' School: Pre-Reception (3+), Reception (4+) to Year 2 (6+)

Applying for a place

Interested in Year 1 (5+) or Year 2 (6+)?

DUCKS A Day in the Life

DUCKS: A Day in the Life

Visit Us

Parent tours

Open Mornings

Safeguarding Policy

Apply for a Place

New users

Existing users

Key Dates

Entry to Pre-Reception (3+)

Entry to Reception (4+) in September 2027

Entry to Year 1 (5+) in September 2027

Entry to Year 2 (6+) in September 2027

Entrance Procedure

Pre-Reception (3+) Entrance Procedure

Reception (4+) Entrance Procedure

Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+) Entrance Procedure

Discover More

Contact the Registrar

Contact Us