DUCKS Kindergarten and Infants' School (6 months to Year 2)
DUCKS is an independent Co-Educational Kindergarten and Infants' School and is one of the five schools of Dulwich College. Attendance at DUCKS is term-time only and the main point of entry is at the beginning of the academic year in September. From September 2025 all new admissions to DUCKS will be fulltime places.
Kindergarten: Age 6 months to 2 years entry
In the Kindergarten, our main points of entry are the Toddler Room and the Duckling Room. Places are offered by date of registration.
Infants: Age 3 to 6 entry
In the Infants' School we have places at Pre-Reception (3+) and Reception (4+), and occasional places at Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+). At 3+ places are offered by date of registration and at 4+, 5+ and 6+ entry is via assessment.
At 4+ applicants have the opportunity to gain a deferred Year 3 place at the Junior School.
Registration to apply for your child to attend one of our Assessment Days for the 4+ 2025 intake is now closed.
Offers will be made during January 2025 and the deadline for acceptance will be midday on Friday 31 January 2025
Booking for 2025 Open Morning and Tours, and Registration to apply for your child to attend one of our Assessment Days for the 4+ 2026 intake opens in May 2025
Entry at 4+ is via assessment
All children who join DUCKS at Reception (boys and girls) are guaranteed a place through to the end of Year 2. We are confident they will thrive at DUCKS and have the opportunity to gain a place at a range of schools when they sit the 7+ assessment during Year 2.
For boys who perform strongly, and demonstrate an above average ability across all areas of learning during their 4+ assessment, there is the further possibility of them being offered a deferred Year 3 place at the Junior School in September 2028, in addition to their 4+ place at DUCKS.
During the assessment, our friendly team of experienced teachers and Early Years practitioners will help settle the children and invite them to spend approximately half an hour in one of our Early Years classrooms, encouraging them to engage in activities within a stimulating learning environment. The activities will be very similar to those already familiar to the children from their current Nursery setting. Our teachers will observe both the children’s levels of engagement and how well they play alongside their peers, thus ensuring they would thrive within our current Pre-Reception cohort.
Kindergarten tours are available most Thursday mornings during the second half of the Michaelmas term, throughout the Lent term and during the first half of the summer term. Please contact the Registrar to book a visit.
Pre-Reception (3+) tours are available most Wednesday mornings during the second half of the Lent term and during the summer term. Please contact the Registrar to book a visit.
Reception (4+)
Reception (4+) tours take place during the Michaelmas term prior to the year of entry and can be booked online once 4+ registration opens.
Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+)
During the Lent term, families wishing to apply for a KS1 place the following September may register online for a bespoke 5+ and 6+ tour once registration opens.
Kindergarten (Toddler Room 12/18 months and Duckling Room 2+)
Places in the Kindergarten are limited and our waiting lists are therefore short. Available full-time places are offered strictly in order of when children are registered and offering takes place during January and February prior to the year of entry. Each year we typically offer:
Baby Room – 6 full-time places
Toddler Room – an additional 8 full-time places (14 in total)
Duckling Room – an additional 10 full-time places (24 in total)
Families are encouraged to visit the Kindergarten before registering and please contact the Registrar to book a tour. The date of registration is the date of initial contact/enquiry and a £125 registration fee is charged.
Pre-Reception (3+)
Entry to Pre-Reception is by waiting list and each year we offer approximately 10/12 places across two classes. Offering takes place during December and January prior to the year of entry.
Places are offered strictly in order of when families register and the children are invited to visit the school before an offer is made. A small group of children will visit the classroom to familiarise themselves with our Early Years’ setting. At the same time, our Early Years' team will be able to observe each child’s readiness for learning.
Siblings of current DUCKS pupils are given priority when places are offered in the Kindergarten and at Pre-Reception.
Reception (4+)
Entry to Reception is via assessment and online registration opens 16 months in advance. Each year we offer between 25-30 places across three classes. Assessments take place across two Saturdays during the previous Michaelmas term prior to the point of entry. Children are seen in small groups according to their date of birth, ensuring we account for age related developmental differences in performance. A team of adults will encourage the children to engage in activities within a stimulating learning environment, observing both their levels of engagement and how well they play alongside other children, thus ensuring they would thrive within the current Pre-Reception cohort.
For boys who perform strongly, and demonstrate an above average ability across all areas of learning during their 4+ assessment, there is the further possibility of them being offered a deferred Year 3 place at the Junior School in September 2028, in addition to their 4+ place at DUCKS.
Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+)
Occasional places may become available at Year 1 and Year 2 and the 5+ and 6+ assessments take place during the Lent term, prior to the year of entry. The Assessments will last approximately 45 minutes and will be led by our Deputy Head and Head of KS1. The children will join the teachers in the classroom and will be invited to take part in activities similar to those already familiar to them from their current Reception class setting.
