Poss moving out of catchment area - help!

[MiaSparrow]

We've just put DD's name down for preschool in Sept but we'll be moving before then. We'll find out if she's got a place in March. How strict are they usually if you move outside of the catchment area AFTER you're offered a place?

This is such a lovely school (also Ofsted outstanding and in the top 100 in the country) and we'd dearly love for her to start reception there too in Sept '15 but we're worried about moving. Long story - we have to move but we're looking to stay as close as possible.

I should mention we're in London so the catchment areas are tiny.

Anyone had anything similar? What happened? Thanks!

[meditrina]

People do move house, so as long as you have complied with anything it says about closing dates and notifications of change of circumstances you'll be OK. It is only if something in your application is in error (such as not updating any changed details before he final cut off) that it would have an impact.

It may however impact on your reception application. Unless there is a criteria giving preference to children in the preschool (check now) then it will probably be distance from your new address that matters and if you are moving beyond the recent typical admissions footprint then you will need to look for realistic schools near your new location.

[Littlefish]

When are you actually moving?

[MiaSparrow]

Thanks both. We'll be moving around March - at the same time we should be hearing whether she's got a place. I heard that there's no guarantee of a reception place if she does get into preschool, but like I say, the catchment areas around here are tiny, so if we do move out of this school's catchment area (which is only about three streets!), then it'll still be walkable anyway.

[Littlefish]

I think the date could be quite important, although I'm more familiar with Reception guidelines than pre-schools in London.

Pre-schools attendance and allocation of Reception spaces is not usually linked, although in schools which are academies or trust schools, they can sometimes have an additional admission criteria which links the pre-school and the school.

You really need to speak to the admissions department at the local authority, or whoever controls admissions. You don't need to give your name.

[deelite72]

Exactly what meditrina said. We had this exact same issue. I spoke with the school receptionist and nursery teacher. Our daughter was allowed to keep her placement at the nursery, even though we moved out of borough... and not on the border out of borough but FAR. There was no way we expected her to be accepted into reception at the school. In the end, we moved her to a lovely nursery at a primary school around the corner from where we are living now. I am sure your little one will stay at the nursery. But you'll have to be prepared to cut your losses when it comes to reception.