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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

School wants copy of birth certificate!!

81 replies

Charlene1 · 09/09/2008 22:03

Anyone know why a school would demand a copy of a birth certificate - and send a note home today saying they "must have it by tomorrow" for my DD who has just started reception???? No explanation given, just the note!!! No saying "we will copy the original" - it said "provide a copy"
I have copied it to take tomorrow(are they going to pay for our printer ink and paper????), but have not been asked for DS's, nor did they ask when he started (he's now Yr 2).
It seems a bit weird and "big brother-ish" - are they checking who's got father's names listed/who's married/British/Parent's occupations etc for "statistics" or some other stuff that is really none of their business???
What could they do if you refuse to give it to them????

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marmadukescarlet · 09/09/2008 22:04

At my DS' school they have to be taken in for Early Years funding, could it be that?

AvenaLife · 09/09/2008 22:05

I think that you have to give it to them so they know where your child was born and that they are legally british. I think. I had to do this when ds started reception, but not when I moved him to a private school.

fryalot · 09/09/2008 22:05

I was asked to show dd2's birth certificate.

I think it's for their funding, they have to prove the number of children that attend the school, they can't just tell people how many there are.

shush3 · 09/09/2008 22:06

take in the original for the school to copy for all of mine.

Goober · 09/09/2008 22:06

It is to varify age of child. Some people will send a child to school who is too young. It is mad, but apparently true.

shush3 · 09/09/2008 22:07

sorry missed the first sentence
I had to ...

Feenie · 09/09/2008 22:07

Standard request, to check they are old enough to start school.

DoNotAnnoy · 09/09/2008 22:08

I think we had to take the birth certificates when we went for the induction prior to teh DTDs starting. I think they just looked at them. I don't remember them taking copies or anything...although I may be wrong.

AvenaLife · 09/09/2008 22:08

Why don't you ask them tomorrow and let us all know?

WideWebWitch · 09/09/2008 22:09

It#s for funding, they have to see it. I took ours in ages ago (July I think for Sept start)and they took a copy.

WideWebWitch · 09/09/2008 22:09

It#s not sinister!

ChasingSquirrels · 09/09/2008 22:10

we had to show ds1's last year (they took a copy), I think it was new last year - LEA not school driven.

unknownrebelbang · 09/09/2008 22:10

I've had to take them in when my three started.

Never thought to question why.

Aimsmum · 09/09/2008 22:11

Message withdrawn

IdrisTheDragon · 09/09/2008 22:12

We had to take DS's in when he when he had his visit.

Had to take DD's for pre-school as well, now I come to think of it.

psychomum5 · 09/09/2008 22:12

I had to provide birth certificate for each of mine when they started at this school, and they were transferring so already in the school system and had already shown the previous school.

it is to check that birth date and name details are correct.

strangest one is that we now have to provide passport too if they have one....I mean, how would they know if they did and we just did not take it??

some schools are bizarre in their thinking!

scaredoflove · 09/09/2008 22:14

To make sure no one is trying to palm off their clever 3 year old into school early and to check child is legal in the country

They can't just take your word for it, they have to check

Why so suspicious?

scaredoflove · 09/09/2008 22:14

And all primaries do it

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 09/09/2008 22:15

We have to see the birth certificate.

The secretary isn't being a nosy old bint, we're not bothered who dad is, where you were born or your shoe size, just that your child is of the right age to be in school.

mehgalegs · 09/09/2008 22:15

Totally standard practice. No biggy.

DoNotAnnoy · 09/09/2008 22:16

says it is for proof of DOB here

Charlene1 · 09/09/2008 22:49

DoNot Annoy - that's shocking!! Well my DD's birth certificate has our old address on, so I'm glad we don't live in that area, as you would have problems if the address didn't match up!!!
Scaredof - I'm just touchy as I am not married to their dad, but the school always calls me "Mrs DP's surname" if you phone up (office staff usually or TA's!!), which I take offence to that they just presume everyone is married to kid's father etc. DS's teacher calls me by first name, but I always have to put (mother) in brackets on forms etc. as I don't have the same name and they wonder who is signing it.
Thanks for all the replies btw - so many!!! Will ask tomorrow why they want it (and probably tell them they have a cheek demanding it the next day!!!)
Makes sense now if it is for funding and nationality etc!! would have been nice if they explained that - GRRR!!!

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NoBiggy · 09/09/2008 22:53

Talking to me, meghalegs?

School wanted it, pre-school before them wanted it (and that was definitely for funding).

DoNotAnnoy · 09/09/2008 22:54

Charlene...birth certificates fon't have any address on.

That document says you need the birth certificate to confirm DOB only. Then another document to confirm parents home address.

The former is probably about funding as others have described. the latter is about making sure that people are not using a fake address to claim they are living in the catchment area of a better shcool

NoBiggy · 09/09/2008 22:56

We've got 2 birth certificates - does the longer version have the address on? Can't remember. I don't actually read it, just wave it at people as necessary.

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