Hi
Bit of history - I have 3 children, DD1 (12) and DS (8) have both attended the same nursery and primary school. Their names were down for nursery shortly after birth, they had their early years nursery place plus some private wrap around care in the primary school. They then went up to primary school and DS is still there in year 4. DD2 (nearly 4) had her name down for nursery from birth. She was offered a nursery place but they couldn't accommodate the wrap around care days we needed (DH and I both work full time). We were forced to send her to a different nursery, but always assumed she would still go to the original primary school alongside her siblings.
Fast forward to two weeks ago, dropping DD2 off at the private nursery, room manager asks if we got our first choice? I was completely oblivious to the fact that we had missed primary application deadlines - it hadn't even been on our radar! When I dropped DS off at primary I asked the receptionist if I had missed it and she said she thought DD2 would have a place, then checked and said no she hadn't. She was as shocked as I was and said that the private nursery should have reminded me and the local authority should have sent me a letter. I phoned the education office and explained the situation. They said it wasn't their responsibility to write to every household with a 3 year old! They said the nursery should have informed me. They sent out a late application form but told me my preferred school was full. I filled out the application form and took it straight back by hand the next day.
On Friday I received a letter telling me DD2 has a place at the primary school in our street. This school has no afterschool club. It has just had its ofsted rating 'needs improvement' and less than 10% of its pupils are at the required standard of reading, writing or maths!
I am in total despair. We are going to appeal on the grounds of we need a school with afterschool care and her sibling attends there but I know my chances are slim.
My questions are: how was I supposed to know the deadline dates? (Obviously I need to take some responsibility for not applying but surely the local education or the school or the nursery should have alerted me?)
Any tips to maximise my chances at appeal?
And what do I do if I lose the appeal? The only option I can see at the moment is DH giving up his job - no one else could pick her up and mind her five days a week.
Totally pulling my hair out at the moment.
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Missed primary application deadline - what now?
83 replies
emmamaw · 07/05/2017 21:37
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