Moving before starting reception class

[SweetColibri]

We are moving back from overseas in August in order for DS to start reception class in a state primary in September this year. I own a house in the UK where my family (parents) currently live which is the address used for the primary school application earlier this year. We were initially intending to move back to this address to live with my family for the first few months ahead of my parents moving out but now not sure this is going to be possible - the house is small (2 bedrooms) and it would entail DP, DS and me sharing a room. Ideally I would prefer to live back in my house (i.e. my parents move out before we get there) but Mum and Dad both have both had various health problems lately and I think it will be too much for them to move (they have lived there for 3 years now and have no other house of their own due to their financial difficulties). So we are likely going to rent somewhere else instead. From what I can gather from the local authority rules this isn't a breach of the admission rules but I feel a bit uneasy as we have made an application referring to one address (and provided relevant supporting evidence re the future move to that address in line with requirements) but would ultimately be living somewhere else. I would of course inform the school etc. We are not (i.e. the address for the purposes of the application) in the catchment area for the school in question - it's an outstanding school but in a rural area and we put it as first choice not expecting to get it and were lucky enough to get a place. I am concerned that if I tell the school that our plans/address have changed (which I would need to do) they will challenge this and withdraw the place. I could remain with my parents for the first few months as originally planned but cannot do that long term - we can't all live in one bedroom and I can't make my parents move. Any Mumsnet insight gratefully received..

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

You haven't been intentially dishonest. Our school seems to half full of people who use an address in catchment then you find out they have always loved somewhere else.

If it was me, I'd leave it until the end of September, then give the school the new address. That may not sit well with your conscientious.

[Snap8TheCat]

How can you apply for a school when you're not even in the country? That's not allowed for a start!

[prh47bridge]

The potential problem here is that you applied using an address where you were not living at the time. The rules vary a little from LA to LA but in general you are expected to apply using the address where you are living, not an address where you expect to live some time in the future. Most LAs will not allow people living overseas to apply until they are resident in the UK (with the exception of armed forces personnel and crown servants). If the LA realise you weren't living in the UK when you applied your son may lose the place that has been offered. Waiting until the start of term won't necessarily help - in this situation they can take the place away even after your son has started school.

Assuming the LA don't already know that you were living overseas, your choices are to keep quiet and hope they don't find out or to explain exactly what has happened and hope they will be sympathetic.

[SweetColibri]

Thanks to both. The LA and the school are fully aware re living overseas at the time application was made. It was all discussed with them in advance and proof of address (I own the house in uk) and evidence of future move back to that address provided and accepted by them. I think it was viewed as the same way as any other application on the basis of a future house move - ie I had to provide evidence that would be moving back by september 2017.

[Snap8TheCat]

But that's the point- applications on the basis of a future house move aren't permitted.

The house also always had two bedrooms so your sudden change of plan based on the fact that you've suddenly realise you've got to share a room doesn't stack up.

I think you're on the fiddle and if I knew you in real life I'd make a complaint against you taking a space from a child who should have had it. I've been on the receiving end of such a decision and luckily the fraud was uncovered and my son was correctly awarded his place.

[lolalotta]

Sounds seriously dodgy to me.

[OlennasWimple]

Any LA that offered you the place when they knew that you were living overseas shouldn't have done so.

If you are determined to keep the place, you need to keep schtum about this (including with the school gate parents)

[prh47bridge]

Any LA that offered you the place when they knew that you were living overseas shouldn't have done so

That is wrong. This is one of the areas where each LA can make its own rules. There is nothing in the Admissions Code that stops them from offering places to people who are not yet living in the UK. They are required to do so with armed services personnel and crown servants. The Admissions Code does not prohibit them from doing the same with other people moving to the UK.

SweetColibri

If the LA were fully aware of your situation you should not have any problems.

[Notreallybarbie1]

I would be inclined to tell school that you are living at another address temporarily but your primary address is the one your parents live at. That way you are being as up front as you can be.

[prh47bridge]

I would be inclined to tell school that you are living at another address temporarily but your primary address is the one your parents live at

That would only be sensible if it really is a temporary address. That does not appear to be the OP's intention. When the LA realised the move was permanent, the fact the OP had not been honest about the address could be regarded as evidence that she was trying to break the rules, thereby increasing the chance that the LA could withdraw the place.