Temporary accomodation and schools admissions.

[Pascale73]

Does anyone know how this would work?

We are moving back to the UK from abroad, possibly in the next few months.

We would be looking to buy straight away, however it is likely it might take us a little while to find somewhere - a couple of months, even more. I don't actually really know what the timescale would be for finding a house, making an offer, doing all the legal stuff, moving in. Hopefully we would be in a new house by the end of the summer holidays, but realistically, that might well not be the case.

While we are house-hunting, we will probably move in with my parents (they live in/very close the area we would be hoping to buy in) rather than rent somewhere short-term.

How would this work with schools? We have 2 primary aged DC, and I would like them to start school as soon as possible, plus the youngest is I think due to start in September.

Can we use my parents address to apply for school places, or do we have to wait until we have bought somewhere? We won't have a rental agreement or utilities bills or anything if we are just staying with family temporarily, so we won't be able to "prove" we have moved to the area.

We could end up buying somewhere several miles away from my parents house, and then we might have to move the DC's school again, so in that case it would be better to wait.

But if it takes months and months to find somewhere, the DC will need to be in school.

SIL says that there is a problem with people moving temporarily just in order to get a school place, and then moving again, and that if we do that they will take our school places away. I don't want that, of course! But it will be a temporary move (I'm hoping very temporary).

Can you get temporary school places, say for just half a term?

[prh47bridge]

No, you cannot get temporary school places. However, you are entitled to apply for a place at a different school at any time.

There can be problems if the council takes the view that you've moved in with your parents simply in order to get a place at a popular school. You may also have problems with any proof of address the council requests.

You need to talk to the council about it. In this situation they decide what is acceptable. Make sure you get their response in writing (email will do). If you have a telephone conversation send them an email immediately setting out what you have discussed. That way if there is any difference between what they say and what they do you will have adequate evidence.

[Pascale73]

Yes, the proof of address is a concern. I suppose we will have to redirect all post to come there, but I don't think we will be put on the Council Tax bill for such a short time

What could the council do it they did think we had moved in with mum and dad to get into a popular school? Just refuse to give us a place until we had managed to buy somewhere?

I don't actually know if my parents even live near popular schools or not. It is the South East though, so probably oversubscribed .

Am I correct that if a school does have spare places, they could take us, even if the school isn't near where we live? I'm thinking we could apply for places near DH's new place of work instead (roughly 10 miles distance of my parents house, and a different council), and that way we wouldn't have to move the DC again once we found a house.

I will contact the council, and see what they say - thank you for the tip about putting things down in writing!

[base9]

You may have to accept some school disruption - starting in one school near your parents and then moving schools when you buy a home. You could home school for a bit to minimise disruption- this has good and bad points for children moving countries. And of course it might not be possible for you with work.

[prh47bridge]

What could the council do it they did think we had moved in with mum and dad to get into a popular school

They can't refuse to give you a place once you are in the UK. They could refuse to use your parents' address. The bigger risk is that once you move they decide that the original application was wrong and take away the place you were offered. If that happened they would have to come up with a new offer based on your new address, so actually that might not be too much of a problem for you. But obviously it would be better if you didn't have to go through that.

[Icimoi]

Will you qualify for child benefit? If so, apply now using your parents' address. The council may accept that as evidence of your address. Also register the family with a GP near to that address, as that also helps by way of supporting evidence.

[Pascale73]

So if a school with places could take us no matter how far away we live, why does our address matter? I really don't understand this catchment area vs apply to any school you want thing.

I think we will be earning more than the tax threshold for child benefit - although it seems to suggest you should apply for it anyway, and then refuse it. I can't apply for it yet though, because I don't know what date we will move, and because we get an equivalent benefit here, and presumably can't get both.

Base9 do you know what the benefits of home-schooling might be particularly for children moving countries? I will be job-hunting, but I could possibly put it off until the DC were settled in school, though that might affect what mortgage I could get. Or maybe I could get a tutor for the short term...

[YonicScrewdriver]

Pascale, it matters because many schools don't have any spare places.

Are your children over the age of 7?

[base9]

If you are looking at a relatively short time between arriving and moving into a new house, perhaps only a term, it might be nice for your children to settle into their new country with you at home, going to museums and parks and exploring the area. It may help them to resettle before they face a new culture and school system. You could try to fill in some gaps in their nonUK education.

I know returning UK parents who have done this and it worked well. However, you need to be happy with it and available, and of course you may be neither! Also, your children may miss the regularity and rules and rhythms of school, and hanging out with chn their own age. You know them best.

Home schooling can be a geat option to get them through the bumps of a move more smoothly. Has to work for all of you though. Getting into a one school and staying there long term without a permanent adress can be tough. I know returning families who have gone through 2 or 3 schools in the first year back while they searched for a home.

[Pascale73]

One is 7, one is 8 (will be 9 in July), the other one is 3 (4 in May).

So if a school has spare places, it will admit us however far away we live.

But if there aren't any spare places, then the nearest one will still have to take us? Is that how it works then?

[YonicScrewdriver]

No. The school best able to fit your child in will take them and that may be different for each year group and each child.

However. Once the children are in year 3 and above the rules about class sizes are slightly less strict. Year 3 is for those who are seven by 1st September when school starts.

[YonicScrewdriver]

You can be a late applicant now for a reception place even from an overseas address, I think.

[Pascale73]

Ok, I see, that seems a bit complicated.

So worst case, if there are no places anywhere, I could end up with 3 children at 3 different schools, and I don't get any say over which ones they are.

They will tell me which schools do have places, though, right? Surely some schools must have places. And then I get to say which of those I want? So what possible advantage could it be for me to say I wanted a school that didn't have space ?

[YonicScrewdriver]

OP, there has been a massive baby boom and squeeze on spaces. Infant class sizes (reception, yr 1 and yr 2) have a strict limit of 30 per class. Year 3 onwards there is no strict limit so class sizes might be 30-35, appeal panels are treluctant to let classes go too far above 30 in most cases.

Approx where in the country are you going?

[YonicScrewdriver]

Also, they could tell you now they have a space but if someone comes into the area before you take the space up, it will go to them. For in year applications, you have to take a space up relatively quickly or it is made available again.

[Pascale73]

Surrey/Hants border, M3 corridor area.

So we just have to be lucky then, hope someone leaves and then we can nab their space.

I do really like the sound of homeschooling for a little while though, and adjusting to the new country, taking a bit of time to visit museums and things while we look for a house and wait for a school, and that could work well if there weren't any places immediately available. I wouldn't want to do it for long, but one term maybe would be a good thing for everyone, less of a culture shock.

So I think we'll wait until we arrive, see if there are any school places in the schools close by DH's work. If there are (and the school seems nice), we'll take them immediately, if not, I will try and home school (and sign up for lots of after school activities) until we have bought a home and have a permanent address, then we will apply for places again.

Does that sound sensible?

I do worry a bit about DS getting too far behind, he is one of the oldest in his year here, but he'll have to go up a year and be one of the youngest in the UK, because of the age cut off being different. He's only in his second year of school here, and I think in the UK he'd be year 4 now.

[YonicScrewdriver]

You can only nab their space if you are first on the waiting list and that would depend on distance/religion/sibling link.

I think it would make sense to apply for reception for your youngest for various schools that would work for you, ideally which are "through" schools (ie primary rather than infant) and which give sibling preference both ways (to older siblings of younger pupils). Then your older DCs will be higher on any waiting lists. You can apply for places for them and appeal if you are declined.

From year 3 onwards, appeals are on a balance of prejudice - will your children be more harmed by not going to the given school versus will the school be more harmed by admitting extra pupils. Anything like a talent for music and the chosen school having special facilities in this area would help your case.

[YonicScrewdriver]

What's the earliest/latest you will artive?

[Pascale73]

I don't know what the earliest is - around 3 months from now, perhaps - mid June.

But it might make sense to let the DC finish the school year here first - so end of July. I suppose it could be pushed even later, August, or September, if we wanted.

I'd rather see the schools and meet the head than apply from here for Reception, I think. I don't want to pick one that looked good on paper, but actually had an unfriendly head teacher, or something

I really didn't realise we might need to appeal to get a place, and that there would still be waiting lists beyond Reception. I thought there would be bound to be places coming up somewhere.

[YonicScrewdriver]

You will get a place somewhere, but if you want all 3 kids at the same school, it may involve an appeal.

[YonicScrewdriver]

Can you come across for a trip after Easter here and arrange to visit some schools?

[YonicScrewdriver]

(Term finishes around July 17/21 here and you won't be able to see schools again until September)

[Pascale73]

Yes, maybe I should try to arrange a visit.

[YonicScrewdriver]

Make sure you don't come during may half term and book appointments with school before you come - some may have test weeks etc that they'd prefer you to work around.