school places

[JammyJimmy]

Hello does anyone know if I can apply for schools outside my LA area?

About twenty mins away is a really great school that would be perfect for my DD and her needs but is just out of the LA and I don't know if the LAC priority would still count.

Thanks

in England?

Yes, LA boundaries do not 'count' in school admissions (unless it's a historic one that marked one edge of a defined catchment area, which is totally irrelevant to your circumstances anyhow).

Yes in England. Thank you for your help that's brilliant news.

Will have a part on school application form, for you too declare if the child left care, Adoption, SGO, Kinship family carer etc , this gives you priority of school choice in and out of area. see www.first4adoption.org.uk for further details, also how too apply for Pupil premium plus £1900per year too help with you with any support though out child's life in education.

Yes, as far as I know.

PP applies too all schools. Is for support for the child not the school.
again see www.first4adoption.org.uk. School will have too apply too LA after parents have submitted proof of Adoption, SGO, Kinship/family care too them (the school) by the way of seeing a copy of the court order.
This is all that is required. there is no income restraint's too prevent , or social payments.

Yep, our son has been accepted to a great school outside our LA based on his adoption

Yes see www.first4adoption.org.uk and Direct Gov. Webb site , also applies too Early years from age 2. Nursery's too apply using same criteria
private or otherwise. Amount for early years is £300pa, But can obtain free child care also at 15 hrs. a week, soon too increase . see same website , or direct Gov.

From what I have seen it would seem the independent school can only claim IF they are funded by the LA-am I wrong?

All state funded education providers may claim the pupil premium for
children adopted from care and for children who have left care under a
special guardianship order or child arrangements order (formally known
as a residence order). This includes children in alternative provision such
as an independent school or educated at home where the local authority
is funding the cost of the provision.

Actually good point - some local authorities pay for children in private schools such as private schools which specialise in dyslexia or a music boarding school.

PP is paid only when the eligible pupil is at a state school, or one which receives state funding (eg ELG, but only during the specified terms in nursery/reception classes).

Yes.

My DD (adopted) got our first choice school and it's in the neighbouring borough to us.

Prior, to applying I did email my county's virtual head and they confirmed it (which put me at ease).

How old is your DD?

You may find that the school is full if applying outside of the normal admissions round (often called an 'in year' application)- as a former Looked After Child, your DD is an 'excepted child' and is not counted towards Infant Class Size regulations, so the school should go over numbers and admit her even if they are full.

Tangerine, you are correct- since April 2015, eligible children in alternative provision (for example, attending an independent school or educated at home) also attract the pupil premium where the local authority funds the cost of the place or provision.