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Original poster

School advice

36 replies

Lemonade19 · 19/06/2015 05:49

We are in a difficult situation in which we have been asked to leave our accommodation by the end of next week by the council. As we have no where to go out social worker has said we go and stay with my aunt who lives in another borough approx 12 miles away from where we live and now. They have said it is mostly I will still be staying at my aunts in September which means he will not be able to continue at his school which would be 13 miles away and take approx 2 hours to get there. I've been told in September if he is not attending they cannot hold his place open the same as my dd due to start reception this year, I don't drive so journey for both children not feasible.

Technically I could just change schools but the problem is social services is helping me with accommodation in the borough which will be this year they reckon late October so not worth changing schools and forking out money on uniform on a new school for a month or so.

What I want to know us on my return does the council have to offer me a school within the borough. The borough is very very oversubscribed especially for secondary and I know for a fact his space will be gone at the old school and any other school in the borough. If there are no spaces do I need to sit and wait for a space to come available and keep him at home or can I appeal for him to attend his previous school if we live within a reasonable distance bearing in mind I don't know where I will be placed in the borough

OP posts:
FishWithABicycle · 19/06/2015 17:45

I know this isn't ideal, but your 13yo can make the journey unaccompanied for the short number of weeks before you can move back. Perhaps you could accompany him part of the way? If only just to the bas/tube stop? Even if he's late every day for 4 weeks he's still attending. A 13yo is plenty old enough to cope with that journey alone even though it's a bit unpleasant.

If your 4yo has a February birthday you are legally entitled to defer her start till after Christmas and the school and LA cannot prevent you from taking that right, and they MUST keep your DD's place open for you. They won't be happy because it will be extra work for them to have a child starting after Christmas who has missed the whole first term, but you can do this. It does need to be an official deferral though - if she just doesn't turn up then they can deregister her.

Original poster
Lemonade19 · 19/06/2015 17:41

We was offered emergency temp accommodation but the nearest they had was in Birmingham in which they basically said take it or stay with a relative Til something comes up. I am from London

If worst comes to worst we may have to rent privately but without working many landlords don't accept housing benefits.

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 19/06/2015 16:19

What a horrible situation for you OP. Do please check that the reception place can be deferred as I'm not sure it's an automatic right, especially if the council is not able to house you back in the borough where the schools are.

While it's lovely of your aunt to put you up it might have been better if you'd had nowhere to go as the council would then have had to find you emergency accommodation and that may have been nearer.

Original poster
Lemonade19 · 19/06/2015 16:13

@ Liz my aunt works so unable to. He could make half the journey alone but would still mean getting up after 5 each day to get the kids ready to take him some of the way

I'm not giving up his place yet will wait and see the situation in September

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/06/2015 16:12

Does the council not have an obligation to rehouse you locally or are the circumstances such that you are deemed to have made yourself homeless?

Original poster
Lemonade19 · 19/06/2015 16:09

@medtrina I've spoken to the school in which they have a long waiting list in most years and they have told me I need to speak to the LA. The LA has said they cannot hold the place open as there is no set date I'm moving back and cannot provide transport in which they suggested I change schools. They also said once I've moved and I don't attend they will give the place to someone else on the waiting lists coz I'm too far out the area to commute. Can a la force you to give up your child's place? Also interesting I can defer reception starting age which may be a good option for me.

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/06/2015 16:08

At 13 could your Ds not make the journey, even partly, on his own , or you leave younger ones with your aunt?

Original poster
Lemonade19 · 19/06/2015 16:03

@fish my daughter was 4 in February and son 13. Not sure if I would actually be able to get him to school even 3 days a week as this would mean getting both kids up and leaving the house by 6:30 plus I've got a 3 month old as well.

I don't work so will not be able to pay for childcare

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 19/06/2015 07:15

What happens when you return depends on your council. Some co-ordinate in year admissions which means you apply to the council and they have to come up with a place. Some leave you to apply to individual schools and only step in if none have a place available. Either way the council has to come up with a place for your son somewhere. It doesn't have to be within the borough but it must be within a reasonable distance of home. Government guidance suggests that means it must be no more than 1 hour 15 minutes journey in each direction using whatever form of transport is provided. If it is over 3 miles from home by the shortest safe walking route the council have to provide free transport.

meditrina · 19/06/2015 07:06

As your DS is secondary age, and you're looking at a gap of a few weeks, then the best option is for him to just commute for those weeks. Because no, if a place is relinquished, you have no guarantee whatsoever of getting a place in that school again. As all this is out of your hands, not a move you chose, and and as they have said that they expect you to be able to return, could you see if they can find transport for him? It doesn't fall under the usual qualifying rules, but if they have any discretionary funding, you might be able to persuade them to pay. After all, moving in with family, not being placed in temp accommodation must be saving them a tidy sum.

As your DD has a place to start on September in your old borough, you can defer the place and start her there in January.

FishWithABicycle · 19/06/2015 06:35

How old are the children? (and when is the birthday of the younger who will be in reception?)

What is your work situation?

Whatever you do only needs to work for a few weeks if there is seriously a good chance of housing back in the right borough by October. Imo that's worth a bit of disruption. If you give up these school places the council will not be under any obligation to provide you with other options when you move back.

If you work, could you pay someone to get the kids to school? (Expensive obviously but only temporary)

Even if you only got them there 3 days a week they would still be "attending" albeit with a terrible attendance record.

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