Crap mother!

[Knackeredmother]

Would appreciate some quick advice from you seasoned parents. My dd is nearly 4 and I have just realised that I am being rather naive in my assumption that she will just turn up to the local village primary when she is due!
So, what should I be doing? Applying for a place? If so when?
I don't even know when kids start school, is it still the September after your 4th birthday like in my day??
Thanks for any advice

[wobblypig]

You should look on your local website for schools admissions - they will give dates for applications etc.

[sue52]

Go on your local authority website where you should find the answers. You are not a crap Mother, just new to all this.

[mummynoseynora]

better check your local website - you might have had to apply already! my DD is just 4 and starts school in sept, we had to apply in november - good luck!

[TheProvincialLady]

Different LEAs have different admission dates and different deadlines but our deadline was January and we get the letters later this month - I can't believe you would miss it though, we got a letter in the post and it was all I the other mothers were talking about for 4 months beforehand

[elphabadefiesgravity]

When is she 4. You need to apply sometime between October and March in the year she turns 4 depending on our local authority. Most places for this September have just been allocated.

[ZombieComforts]

If she is four before 1st Sept 2011, you need to do a lot of swearing and contact your LEA ASAP.

If she is four after 1st Sept 2011 then B-R-E-A-T-H-E and find out the admission dates for next year (you'll be needing to apply some time in the autumn probably.

[Hulababy]

When does she turn 4y?
Are you in England?

[Lonnie]

Sounds like you are an amazing mother to me when my dd1 was nearly 4 it had not occured to me I had to apply anywhere (as I grew up with a different system where they come to you not the other way around)

[Knackeredmother]

She is 4 in October so looks like I can relax!
If it wasn't for mn I would have just turned up on the first day! I work long hours so don't really see other mums with dc the same age. How on earth are we expected to know all of this stuff?!!
Thanks for your help!

[Clary]

She should get application forms or notification of the need to apply via her nursery setting (I assume she has one if you work?)

Yes, in some LEAs you need to apply by Oct/Nov before they start so for you, Oct this year.

[goodbyemrschips]

You are not expected to know it but you are expected to investigate it.

[ninani]

But many people don't know at which age children start school because they had followed different systems for their own studies.

[ninani]

You can phone the LEA or any school office. I think it will take you less time to phone a school office. Tell them that your daughter will turn 4 during the following academic year (2011-2012) so when does she need to apply and how she can get an application form. The school will say that you have to do it through the LEA as they don't handle admissions (only nursery admissions where you could have applied for one or you can still go on the waiting list despite them refusing) but they can still tell you the dates.

[Hther]

here you get a letter almost as soon as they turn 3. i think the local authority get details sent to you from your GP / health visitor

[Knackeredmother]

Ok I'll ring to cover all bases. We have a nanny so no nursery to remind us unfortunately! We just live in our own happy little bubble oblivious to what we should be doing! I can't believe I'm having to think about schools, she's still a baby in my eyes, don't know where the time has gone!

[MigratingCoconuts]

yes, here too a letter comes to our home based on medical details from the NHS. It outlines what your choices are and what you have to do.

Don't worry, it will all pretty much happen automatically at the right time

[Clary]

Oh OK, I assumed she was at some kind of pre-school setting.

I would consider that if I were you, even with a nanny (itr's free once the child is 3) but that's a whole other thread!

[Skinit]

I agree that there is not enough education on school placement...I think new Mothers should be given a leaflt at the hospital....I mean they think nothing of giving us a bag of crap freebies and advertisements...why not educte first time Mothers on school admissions and dates to apply etc.

[elphabadefiesgravity]

When dd was comeing up to 3 we had a check with the health visitor and it was one of the things mentioned. They had abolished those checks by the time ds was that age.

We never got any kind of letter for dd and only one for ds about a month after the deadline telling us it had come to their attention we had not applied for a school place.

[Michaelahpurple]

I think they assume that most children will be at nursery school (not day care nursery - most children with nannies also go to nursery school for education) so will know. The independent sector is worsse - you need to know about this so early in many places that one is highly unlikely to get it right for first child!

[jimmycarr]

I didn't get a letter about my needing to apply for a school place for my dd. I knew when I had to apply anyway but it's juat a warning for those who expect to get a letter!

[elphabadefiesgravity]

But you also wouldn't know how to apply for nursery school would you. The deadline for nursery is even earlier than reception.

[Moomoomie]

Does your dd go to a pre school?
Lots of primary schools have them attached.
It may be worth looking into as she will often get to know the other children she will go to school with.
They get funding for a certain amount of hours, the term after they turn three.
My dd has loved pre school.

[Knackeredmother]

I actually had a place for her at the local preschool but then my son got ill and it all fell by the wayside. Must sort that out soon (along with the 5000 other things on my list!)