Dear Sadie,
Thanks for the question.
Fundamentally, Baptism is no different for the Church of England than the Catholic Church: their Sacrament is accepted by the Catholic Church. The issue is being fully “received” into the Catholic Church. Normally one professes the Catholic faith in some public manner (to be formally received in the Church) when coming from a different denomination (which your Church of England Baptism implies). If you or your child never were formally received into the Catholic Church, you should talk to your priest about that and that can be done easily. (I don’t see why they couldn't do it for your child in conjunction with their First Communion — it could be an occasion for joy at the event.
But it any case, if you have already received a Catholic education via RCIA or CCD when you were young this is virtually a simple formality. If you never received education, you should consider that and also Confirmation, which completes the sacraments of initiation.
Finally, don’t be insulted by any of this, every institution has norms and procedures, and the church is no different in that respect. You are beloved by God and He may be calling you through this moment to dive a little deeper and grow in your faith, experience the blessings of the sacraments and even enrich your relationship with your child. So do a little consult with the priest and get things rolling.
God bless you!
Bob Kirby
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