School admissions

[hackneylady]

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.

Tethers it depends on the borough. Our borough applies this to all adopted children regardless of actual date adopted which seems right. So it made a difference for our dd who was adopted in 2004 but applying for secondary this year.

The cut off seems harsh as it will affect some secondary applications when we know our children face additional challenges in the selection and transition process.

Hi HackneyLady from HackneyLass. I've just been through getting in-year nursery & Reception places in Hackney for my nephews who have come to live with me under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). We have had a mixed experience!

The primary school was fantastic, welcoming from our first visit and appreciative of boys' situation. It is CoE but unlike a previous poster suggested we weren't asked any questions about religion as we weren't applying under that criteria.

The Learning Trust (Hackney's education department) was pretty useless. Our case is straightforward but they managed to make a meal of it. They did not give us any constructive advice, we had to find it all out ourselves, and they didn't have a single point of contact so we were referred to 10-15 people in different departments over several weeks!

For instance, the oldest one was refused an in-year place in Reception because the class was already full (over PAN). But the LT did not tell us the school would take him if directed to by the LA where they had been in care - a straightforward "letter of instruction". Instead the LT said we would "have to wait for a place to come up", pressurised us to take a place at another (much less suitable) school half an hour away (so the boys would be in different schools), said "if you don't take this school place what are you going to do about his education" and "in the meantime here is a leaflet about children's activities in the local area", wrong! In my naivety I thought they would be there to help.

The worst offender was Kent, the LA where the boys were in care. Kent kept stalling, refusing to write the letter of instruction, saying things like "we havn't decided if we are gong to write the letter", "why don't you send him to one of the schools with places", making us write in effect an appeals letter saying why this school and no other. After several weeks of extreme persistence they did finally agree to write the letter - as if it was some great concession on their part - and the school waived their appeal period to offer him a place on the spot. But what a lot of stress to get to that point.

And, yes, all of this had a detrimental effect on the boys as they had been told by SWs they would leave their school in Kent and immediately start at their new school in Hackney - by the same SWs who wouldn't help us get the letter of instruction! Thanks Kent.

So, yes in theory adopted, SGO & RO children will get priority but you may have to arm yourself with the DoE guidance and be very persistent. We found the officials we dealt with didn't seem to know the guidance but hopefully that will change over time.

Interesting, paddy- I had not come across an LA who gives priority to all children adopted from care. The admissions code specifies those adopted under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, and I am pleased to hear that some LAs are applying this also to all children adopted from care; I was not aware that they had the freedom to do this.

Sorry you and your children had such a difficult time, HackneyLass.

Children adopted from care after December 2005 are excepted children (along with LAC, they are excepted from Infant Class Size regulations) and can be admitted even if the school has no places available.

As you say though, in practice it is alarming how many LA admissions teams are not aware of the law. I'm an advisory teacher for LAC, and am frequently told that a Looked After Child is 'top of the waiting list' for a chosen school. LAC and previously LAC should never be on the waiting list; they should be admitted.

I don't know if its true or not.. you do hear so much at times... that even if it puts the school over the 'staff to child ratio' - your child must be admitted and they have to take on more staff...

Thanks, everyone. Useful to hear that not all schools/LAs are aware, and may need 'reminding'. :-)

Hackneylass sorry to hear you've had such a difficult time. I don't know if you've ever come across this support group? Meets in N16, don't know if that's the right end of Hackney for you. wearefamilyadoption.wordpress.com/parent-support-group/

I know if a couple of L

Gah!!!

I know of a couple of London boroughs that give priority to all formerly looked after children, regardless of the date of adoption.

As far as I'm aware, the priority admissions doesn't "count" for selective schools - though I think that if the school has a mixture of selective and non-selective entry (such as the state school in Westminster where Miss Gove will be going in Sept) adopted children get priority in the non-selective bit so could still benefit.

Also religious schools (even state supported ones) are allowed (AFAIK) to prioritise religion as an entry requirement although some of them will (grudgingly!) allow LAC of that faith priority over non-LAC. Though our local catholic primary prioristises anycatholics practising within the parish absolute priority over anyone else even practising catholic LAC in another parish... how very unchristian of them!