Help! Moving to Uk soon - confused by education set up

[Lars01]

Hi, were moving to the UK by the end of the year. We have a 2 year old who will be 3 in October 2015 and a 5 year old (turned 5 in May 2015). We're basing our choice of town on the schools in the area, we're heading to Norwich as we have family there, or surrounding areas - within an hour of Norwich centre. I really want to find a school that's age range is from 3-11 - I've researched until I'm so 'over-infoed' I'm now confused. I've got a list of primary schools in the Norfolk area and I'm googling each one :P. My problem is some Primary Schools take ages 3 - 11 and some don't and a lot of their websites don't actually say age range. Can anyone help me with some names of schools that take that age range - either with both ages on the same property or with a nursery within a few minutes walking distance from each other- I wont have a car. Thanks L

[NickySummerbee]

Are you looking for state schools (free to attend and funded by the government) or private/independent schools (where you pay termly fees, some of which are also confusingly called public schools).

[CultureSucksDownWords]

Assuming you mean state-funded, Primary schools don't take children aged 3, they take them from aged 4 into their Reception classes. You sound like you're looking for a Primary School with an attached pre-school?

Also, just be aware that if your chosen school is full, they cannot take your child. You will have to take a place at essentially the nearest school that isn't full.

[thanksamillion]

Assuming you're talking about state schools, what you are looking for is a Primary School with a nursery or pre-school attached. No schools actually have the age range 3-11 as you can't start school at 3, but some schools have attached provision from that age.

The problem which you will have is that you can't register or reserve a place until the children are actually physically in the country, so if it's a school with pressure on places you are going to need to live with a great deal of uncertainty. Sorry but that's the way it is!

[JugglingLife]

Hi Lars, the most common set up is infant schools from 5-7, then juniors from 8-11, these are often all one school, occasionally not but are commonly known as primary school. Your eldest child would already be at school in the UK so you need to be very careful as they will be an 'in year transfer'. Just because you like the look of a school it does not mean that they will have a place for your child. You could end up being offered a place at a school that is a fair distance away. Unless you are looking at private schools of course and then the above is irrelevant.

[redskybynight]

You will want pre-school for your youngest (and some settings - particularly those attached to schools - will only take them in the September AFTER they turn 3, so you may not get him in everywhere).

Your oldest will be going into Year 1. "Good" schools are likely to be oversubscribed for Year 1, so you will very much have to take whatever place you are offered.

As others have said it's not usual to find a school that caters for 3-11, but even if the pre-school part is not actually part of the school you often find that all or most children from a specific pre-school will move onto a specific school so you do get continuity that way.

[lljkk]

There is a local MN board for Norfolk. In Norfolk we mostly have age 4-11 schools (just plain primary), or age 4-7 (infants or 'first school' in the name) or age 7-11 (junior in the name) schools.

some of the primary or infants school have preschools, which take them from 3yo.

[FishWithABicycle]

Just be aware that if you send your 3yo to the preschool attached to a 4-11primary school, that DOESN'T guarantee the child a place in the reception year once they are 4yo - you still have to apply and if you don't meet the criteria and it's oversubscribed then having been at the preschool means nothing.

[UnspecialSnowflake]

Can I just add that going to a schools pre school doesn't automatically mean a child will get a place in the school when they move onto reception. The criteria for school entry of siblings already at the school and distance from the school (also possibly church going for some schools) will be all that matters. Children at the school pre school have no more chance of a place than those who go elsewhere (again this is entirely different if you chose private and only applies to state).

As you'll already have a child in the school you probably won't have a problem and your youngest will get a place. However if there is a very high demand for the school and you live outside of the catchment then There is the possibility of not getting a sibling place.

[UnspecialSnowflake]

Cross post.

[UnspecialSnowflake]

Another thing to add. The pre school probably won't be full time or necessarily follow the main school hours. Depending on demand you may find that you're only offered maybe a couple of morning or afternoon sessions a week, which would be something to bear in mind if you were planning to work and use the pre school as child care.

[lljkk]

In Norwich/Norfolk we don't generally have over-subscribed schools. Even at secondary it's unusual.

In Norfolk the preschool place (if preschool is attached to the school) is a session every morning or every afternoon, weekdays in term time.

Avoid Wymondham town or (in Norwich) The Avenues or Coleman, and primary school places aren't too hard to get.

[lljkk]

ps: OP really needs 5maththings, she's got the lowdown on Norwich schools.