UK Reception application from overseas - strategy help please

[cowbiscuits74]

Hello, looking for some help on strategy for perhaps a not very common situation when applying for Reception places. Sorry if this is a bit long just want to get all the details down.

We are currently overseas, returning to the UK next summer. Closing date for applications to the LEA we will be in is mid-January 2015.

I thought we could only apply once we had arrived and had a UK address and therefore end up as late application and make the best of whatever places were left over but advised by LEA today we can apply with the rest of the first round applicants, I think perhaps because it is Reception and not any other year group.

Anyway, so we have gone from thinking we will look at schools next May once all the first round places have been taken up which would be a manageable shortlist to 'crikey better get our skates on now' and make the most of this opportunity.

I might be able to come the UK next week and visit a few schools but need help coming up with a shortlist or strategy as I guess if we lived there already we would pick the ones that we liked and were nearest to us.

We have a general idea of where we would like to live but of course that all depends on finding a rental property.

I have the data from the LEA that shows furthest distance to school for last 3 years and a list of schools where no refusals were made (could either be new, failing or in a not heavily populated area I guess so will need to research why not oversubscribed) so thought I would somehow come up with a visit list from that as can't visit them all.

Question 1. How to come up with a shortlist for my visit and is 6 schools about right? Is my idea of using the data a solid enough basis? What about OFSTED should I use that as a basis for visits or later on in deciding which ones to state preference for?

Question 2. When we apply should I pick 3 close together that I like or do I pick my top 3 even though they might be miles apart?

Sage advice from Mumsnetters welcome, thank you.

[lougle]

It depends where you're going to be living. For instance, in my area, we have 5/6 good or outstanding schools in a 2 mile radius and in most years nearly everyone gets their first preference. It really isn't a big deal.

If you're thinking of living in London, even 1 metre can mean the difference between getting allocated a school near to you or one 3 miles away.

So strategy will differ. Can you give a clue as to region, County, or even just 'urban vs rural'?

[cowbiscuits74]

lougle we will be under South Glos. LEA which I understand is better than Bristol in terms of over subscription but differs in their sibling policy - should have mentioned I also need a Y3 place but will deal with that in the summer once we have the Reception place sorted as can't do anything about that until we arrive, thanks

[hollie84]

I can't see how you can apply before you have an address, as places will be decided on distance? Unless you are only applying for undersubscribed schools?

[Damnautocorrect]

My friend had this, she also had an address (had rented her home out) but was told she couldn't apply until they were back in the uk (which would have been August for that sept start). That local authority said she would just have to go through appeal and waiting.
In the end she didn't come back. That was an area with high demand though.

[lem73]

I was in your situation several years ago when returning from abroad and I was told by the LEA I couldn't apply without a permanent address. In fact I was told that by the admissions teams in three different borough councils. I am therefore surprised you think you can apply with the normal round of applications.
I had to wait til dh started his new job in the August and we found a house. Only when I had proof of address could we submit an application which was treated as an 'in year' application. It was quite stressful for me. However we did find a place in a lovely school and he started on the first day of term with everyone else.
If you really are anxious about this, couldn't you consider coming home a bit earlier than your dh?

[cowbiscuits74]

I know I am as surprised as you all are as contrary to everything else I have read but have it in an email to apply - do I have anything to lose? I am not sure.

lem73 Would love to come back earlier but for various reasons can only leave my job May/June time at the earliest. I expect DH will have to stay on 3-6 months regardless plus would then need to get DS in school anyway and was thinking best to have him finish Y2 here (sorry forgot to mention this extra factor in original post) - glad it worked out for you, our little darlings have no idea the agonizing we do over their education and general well being do they?

[admission]

Are your service personnel or crown servants? If you are then the LA is taking a pro-active and sensible approach to the situation and there is an ability to apply for school places before you return to the UK. You will need a official letter confirming the posting to the area for it to be acceptable.

If you are not service personnel, then by all means apply but I believe that you can only be considered as being a distance application and the distance is to your current address, which I assume is a considerable distance. In other words you will only get a place offered if one of the schools is not full.

As far as the schools to put on the list. I would put down those that you feel suit you and your children best and see what happens.

[Doodledot]

I assumed service personnel as they can have diff rules ?

[cowbiscuits74]

not services or diplomatic, just regular ex-pats. Yes distance is considerable, over 4,000 miles ha ha!

If I have nothing to lose think I am going to go ahead and submit an application after visiting next week and will try to strategise as best I can about which ones will be under-subscribed (but not for an alarming reason IYSWIM)