Bickley park school called me today (1.5month before original entry date )telling me there is no space for my son!!!!!

[aecorner]

I applied nursery for my son in Bickley park school in May 2015. And expecting him to start in January 2017.
In the confirmation letter they sent to me on 12 May 2015, it said"I'm delighted that you have decided to send XX to us and confirm that he has been placed on our list for entry to the nursery from January 2017 when he will be over 2 1/2 years age. All paper relating entry will be sent out nearer time and I shall then look forward to welcomeing XX to Bickley"

Then today, at about 16:30 I received a call from them, telling me there is no space for my son for January entry because of large number of siblings applications. I was shocked and angry. Cause I didn't apply anywhere else and there is impossible for me to find him another place in such short notice. Then she said every applicant need to attend an assessment and pay deposit then the place is confirmed. However according to my understanding to the letter they sent to me in 2015 , my son's place is already confrimed ( Correct me if I am wrong. English is not my first language) And they have never mentioned an assessment. I also told the lady on the phone even if there is no space, they shouldn't call me so late. Then the lady said she would call me later.
After 10mins she called back and invited my son to attend a so-called assessment next Monday morning.( Today is friday). I feel like she is just trying to find an excuse to turn down my son. I agreed to bring him to the assessment.

Is there anything I can do? Write to the head? Find a solicitor?

[WipsGlitter]

It sounds like he never had a place but was on the list to be assessed for entry.

But they were telling you today he wouldn't get in because of siblings.

[aecorner]

Does the letter they sent to me mean that? Cause from my understanding to the letter, they never mentioned an assessment. Even though why did they call me so late?

[LIZS]

Is this a private school? If so, it may well for that a family have arrived in the area and with older children at the school their younger child takes precedence over yours. The letter is ambiguous, placing on a list probably means he was shortlisted rather than had a guaranteed place. Have you paid any registration fee or deposit ? It does seem late in the day but do ask whether a place may come up later.

[aecorner]

Yes it is a private school. Now my doubt is why my son's place is taken rather anyone else's? Cause I do know someone applied later than me and got a space.

[LIZS]

www.bickleyparkschool.co.uk/applications/

It seems pretty clear that you pay to register in advance, are invited to a trial day then are offered a place for which you pay £500 deposit. What stage/s had you gone through?

[WipsGlitter]

"placed on our list for entry" not "has a place".

So a bit ambiguous but no, the letter does not say you have a place.

[aecorner]

When I applied( May 2015) I was very sure there was no mention of deposit nor trial day neither on website or their Email replies. And I was never written or phoned regarding this. Not until today I was told I need an assessment and deposit. And isn't that quite late for rejecting an application?

[LIZS]

Private school lists are not transparent. It could be a sibling, the child is older, have another link to the school or parent was just been more persistent on the phone. If they have an intake each term in nursery might there be chance at Easter? Or you look elsewhere in the meantime.

[Lilianne]

If you're quoting directly from the letter, then it is very misleading. I'd have read it as having a place. But picking fights or pointing to the unfairness of it isn't going to help get a place, so I'd go to the assessment very positively and make it clear how disappointed you'd be if he couldn't attend. Try to portray being the kind of superkeen parent that private schools like