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Adoption

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on adoption.

Original poster

School admissions

34 replies

hackneylady · 11/04/2014 14:21

I was wondering if anyone could tell me about their experience of school admissions with adopted children.

Three London boroughs whose policies I've read say that they give precedence to current and formerly looked after children. However, it would be great to know if they really do in practice, in your experience (if this policy in place where you live - I'm not sure how widespread it is). It could just be one of those things they say but then find ways to circumvent in real life.

The reason I ask is that we're (still!) considering adopting and are looking to buy a house with enough room. The one we have our eye on is in the catchment area of a not-great school - so we would need to look slightly further afield but it would be important to us to know we could get any potential LO into a good school (and I don't mean 'good' in pushy academic kind of way!)

Thanks very much.

OP posts:
HarrietSchulenberg · 11/04/2014 14:28

Most schools would be delighted to have your dc, not least because he/she could bring some very attractive funding, as long as you declare the adoption status when applying. More info here:

www.adoptionuk.org/pupil-premium-plus

Happiestinwellybobs · 11/04/2014 15:53

As Harriet says above. All the schools in our area have this as their first criteria, and we have some sought after ones nearby.

titchy · 11/04/2014 16:02

It is now a legal requirement to consider both currently and formerly looked after children as top priority in school admissions. To do otherwise would be unlawful. The child must have been adopted from local authority care though (so for example overseas adoptions or kinship adoptions if the LA has never had responsibility for the child do NOT count).

Devora · 11/04/2014 17:21

Yup, all schools now have to do this. Enjoy the rare perk!

odyssey2001 · 11/04/2014 17:35

Technically the are second from the top. A child with special needs that could be specifically met by that school would be at the very top, but unless they have class sizes that are absurdly small (or they are a specialised SEN school) a previously looked after child is guaranteed a place. It is part of the new admissions code which came into effect in September 2013.

Original poster
hackneylady · 11/04/2014 17:50

Brilliant, thanks very much, everyone!

Do you still have to be within the catchment area of the school though? Or does it mean you have your pick of the borough and can go anywhere?

OP posts:
odyssey2001 · 11/04/2014 18:14

You do NOT need to be within the catchment. It is all about finding the best school for an adopted child not the closest.

Not sure about crossing county lines for those close to an LA border. Maybe sometime else can comment on that?

Ladyofthehouse · 14/04/2014 20:49

We adopted from another county (for security for the children) and have been told that it doesn't make any difference and they still get priority places at the school.

So far the admissions people have asked for proof of adoption which I've sent in....and they did say "oh I see she was in care in xxxx" to which I explained why she was moved out of the area and they said fine.

I will still feel much calmer once I have it in writing that she is in to the chosen school though!!

64x32x24 · 14/04/2014 21:34

There is one limitation to your free choice of schools though: Some faith schools won't let you in unless you (and your child) are of that faith.
So for instance some catholic schools will have admissions categories as follows
1)LAC/former LAC who are baptised catholics
2)Catholic children resident within the parish (church attendance and/or distance and/or siblings to differentiate between these if necessary)
3) Catholic children resident outside of the parish
4) Orthodox Greek and whatever children
5) LAC/former LAC who are not baptised catholics
6) Non-catholic children who live within the parish
7) other non-catholic children

In such a case, unless the child were a baptised catholic, they most likely wouldn't get in, adopted or not.

Ledkr · 14/04/2014 21:37

You can also have a free 15 hours nursery place for a 2 yr old if that's useful to know and yes they are legally obliged to prioritise adopted children along with looked after children.

Kewcumber · 14/04/2014 23:09

You can also have a free 15 hours nursery place for a 2 yr old if that's useful to know - I find this particular thing really bizarre although I'm sure there must be someone who benefits from it. It must be exceptional that an adopted 2 year old is suitable for 15 hours of nursery.

My DS did about 9 hours of nursery at aged 3 and he struggled with that! And was by no means exceptional amongst our adoptive friends, and he'd been home for 2 years by then!

MyFeetAreCold · 15/04/2014 01:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RhinosAreFatUnicorns · 15/04/2014 06:17

DD is currently getting the 15 hours free hours, although as she is almost 3, the 15 hours free for 3-year olds would have come in shortly for her.

She started going part time at 20 months, but loves it. We had a wobbly two weeks where I thought about pulling her out and giving up work, but actually she loves it.

(Trying out my name change :))

Ledkr · 15/04/2014 08:10

kewcumber we did wonder that at work (I work in adoption) but I guess if the child was placed early enough it might be useful.
Lots of our parents are going back to work while the child is under 3 and they would have been going to nursery anyway, one mum can effort to go only part time because of the vouchers.

Ledkr · 15/04/2014 08:10

Afford not effort Hmm

Kewcumber · 15/04/2014 09:08

Oh don;t get me worng, I'm not knocking it if it's useful. I was back in work by then myself but DS found a home environment with a child minder very very different to a nursery setting and really struggled (he only just about coped with it at 3, I think it would have been a disaster at 2)

Other children I know were similar but then I think they all been placed about a year (or less than) by aged 2 and had some other form of childcare as well. So maybe its the issue of one place to settle too many and if you haven't gone back to work then it works better.

allthingswillpass · 15/04/2014 09:23

Just a limitless add on. In our area, there were only 2 nurseries where you could use the funding.

allthingswillpass · 15/04/2014 09:26

Little not limitless!!!

Ledkr · 15/04/2014 09:27

Really? Wow I thought they had to by law! Awful

fasparent · 15/04/2014 12:17

Adoption Passport will give full details also other supporting information available for adopters www.first4adoption.co.uk.

Maiyakat · 15/04/2014 12:23

DD will be using the 2 year funding - she's been in nursery since 9 months into placement and been fine. She is a very sociable little thing though! However I do agree that it would make more sense to use the funding to allow parents to stay at home a bit longer before returning to work.

I suspect the number of nurseries that accept the funding is affected by how many children in the area are eligible. Round here they all accept it as lots of children meet the financial criteria. Hopefully as the criteria is expanded in September more places will accept it.

Kewcumber · 15/04/2014 12:48

yes if they are already in nursery them no great change. DS was at a childminder and he had to go to nursery in addition and be picked up by different people each session which really wasn;t ideal.

fasparent · 15/04/2014 23:23

DD has just been accepted for senior school out of area within another
LA Area, she is dead chuffed, she has just received a nice expectance picture post card from the school, a lovely way of doing thing's.
We had too apply through our own LA form has the information regard adoption and leaving care on all had too do was fill it in and wait, would have appealed if refused though. She is very pleased.

paddythepooch · 16/04/2014 07:58

This should apply for all LAs but double check if there is a cut off date. We have just gone through secondary application and whilst our LA applied the new law, Lewisham didn't. They said they were only giving preference for children adopted after a cut off date which was too late for us. Not impressed.

Meanwhile we got into our first choice under this criteria. Though having nightmares proving child benefit but that's another story.

tethersend · 16/04/2014 20:29

As I understand it, children adopted from LA care under section 46 of the Adoption and Children act 2002 (or a residence order or an SGO as set out in the Children Act 1989) are given the highest priority in school admissions criteria. Since this did not come into force until 30 December 2005, only children adopted after this date qualify under this criterion.