Putting your childs name down for school.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I wasn't to sure which topic to post this under really, but it's a little double dilema thats plaguing me atm.

Last week I had a visit from my HV's nursery nurse and she asked if I had got dd's name down for a Nursery yet. I'm a sahm and don't want to send dd to Nursery till she's 3 which will be October next year.

I was telling my SIL (who is a teacher) as I was a bit shocked because I thought it was too early to be doing this and she agreed with the NN and that when my dd is 2 I should be putting her name down for schools!

So my question is;
Has anyone else done this already and do you agree that this should be done?

Obviously I want dd to go to a good nursery and school so I don't want to miss out but at the same time I don't want to be too premature IYSWIM. I get all upset thinking my dd is growing up!

[Gwenick]

DS2 is 16 months and I put his name down for Nursery (starts Sept 2007) 1 month ago. I'd advise getting him down early for nurseries in particular as they can fill up very quickly

[PrettyCandles]

For nurseries you really do need to put their name down early. Nurseries ge tbooked up veyr quickly. Do you refer to private school or community school? Community schools have no waiting list. 'Putting her name down' would only ensure that you are sent an application form at the right time. Community schools have very strict admissions guidelines which they have to follow. I don't know about private schools.

[sparklymieow]

I put DD2's name down when she was 1 1/2. Just because I knew that I wouldn't get a preschool place otherwise....

[coppertop]

It seems to depend on the area you live in. With ds1 we contacted the school in December 2003 (deadline was March 2004) and he started school in September 2004 (at 4.3yrs). His pre-school had no waiting-list so we basically phoned them to arrange his first session for the following week.

I would contact the nursery/school you'd like dd to go to and ask them what their policy is.

[littlerach]

I think it depends on where you live, what schools are like etc.

WRt nursery, you can put yuor name down whenever you like, some do have long waiting lists if they are in popular areas.

Many schools don't encourage you to put names down in advance, as they are regulated by LEAs, those that have opted out have their own policies for admissions so you need to contact them directly.

Although your daughter won't be 3 until October, many nurseries take from 2.9 yrs, so you may want to do visits with her from this summer term which isn't that far away now! Then she will ahve already seen the setting before the start of term in September.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

No I'm not sending her to a private school but I don't think I want to send her to the schools near where I live. Will they just laugh at me if I want to send her slightly further away?

[Fimbo]

My ds's name has been down for my local nursery since he was 10 days old as my dd didn't get a place at it and had to stay at playgroup for an extra year (which she hated) as there was nowhere else for her to go. Where I am it seems to be the done thing to put their name down as soon as they are born.

[PrettyCandles]

BTW, I'm also a FTM, but I sent both of mine to nursery part-time (3 mornings) from the age of 2. I thin they need the interaction with other children and adults, and some time away from me. OK, I admit I also need some me-time too...not that I got any until recently when they were both at nursery at the same time. I really feel they ahve flourished at the nursery and that it has been a very positive thing for them.

[PrettyCandles]

I don't think they'll laugh at you . But, depending on the schools in your area, you may have difficulty getting her into a school outside your catchment.

I'm in a bit of a panic right now, because we're in the catchment of only one school, but it is the best in the area and people move into this area to get their kids in it. Unfortunately, that means that they are often overscubscribed - last year they weren't able to offer places to all their catchment applicants, let alone out-of-catchment applicants. In such situation places are offered according to how close children live to the school, and we are on the last road, right at the edge of the catchment area. [insert worried icon].

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Thats interesting to know PC.

I've got my eye on one particular nursery which I have heard and read good things about it. Obviously I will go and have a look first. In fact I might give them a call and go and have a look.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I hope you get in then PC. That must be quite frustrating.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I'm going to call the Nursery but who will I need to speak to?
Should I just ask for the manager?

[clary]

NBG; our nursery school is very popular and they advise you to put child?s name down when they are 2 (at one stage this was the earliest they would take them). But it doesn?t have a catchment area as such.
Re schools, where are you? because London seems to be different from rest of country. Here (not in London) you would basically get a place at yr catchment area school (ie your local one) if you put their name down the day before applications close! It?s not about how early you get in there, but rather how well you fit the admissions criteria, which start with special needs, then catchment and siblings at school, then catchment and so on.
I?ve never heard of a primary school here (i?m in Derby) refusing a place to a catchment area child.
In london you are in the area for lots of schools so it?s a bit different. Also it?s different if you want to go out of catchment. do you? But even then early registration probably won?t make any differnece to yr chances of gettign a place.
Why not go an look at some nurseries and schools and see what you think?

[clary]

pretty candles that?s terrible about not gettign a place at catchment area primary
I really am surprised (don?t dispute what you say of course) that?s unheard of here. Where are you?
nbg: you should ask to speak to the head teacher at the nursery school

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I've rung the Nursery and we're going to have a look tomorrow afternoon

Clary, I will probably want dd to go to a school out of our catchment area but after reading the posts I don't know wether we'll manage that one.

[clary]

nbg re out-of-catchment area school, that really depends. At my ds1?s school we take many pupils out of catchment, and in fact next year we have a lot of spaces even so. It?s a lovely school, with a good reputation and good SATs (for what that?s worth) but there just aren?t enough 4yo children in the area (I?ve done my best lol!).
I think the problem is going to be repeated across the city next year actually. so you might well be lucky
Good luck with the nursery visit
Pamina as far as I can see it?s all different in London, but yes, we still have catchment areas here in the sticks

[clary]

pamina yes I agree re people moving to the area and pushing up house prices beign a bad thing of course. But tbh that really isn't an issue here for primaries (differnet story at secondary level but let's do one thing at a time....).
I know that our reception year now in place is full, because of Millennium babies? but even then that includes some out-of-catchment children.
Pamina does your system still depend on how near you live iyswim? Or are other factors considered 1st? If the former then I guess the end result is not that much differnt.

[muminlondon]

That's scary isn't it? So you don't get the second choice on distance even if you're nearer to it than someone putting it as 1st choice?

would you be able appeal on the grounds that you have no car and the buses are rubbish? or are primary school pupils expected to travel long distances on the train unaccompanied?