To be worried about this re school place

[Wonkydonkey123]

I have 3 dc. When DD, now 10 (year 5) was about to start school we decided that we would like her to go to the school i went to that was near my parents as it was a nice small school (but not amazing in terms of ofsted etc) and would be helpful when i went back to work for gp's to do the pick ups. We live about a 5 min drive away. She got in as it was an undersubscribed school that many in our area had never heard of. The school down the road had the better reputation but that wasnt our reasons for doing it.

The same went for our DS1 who we also applied to go (again using our own address, not in the catchment or the LEA as our town has 2 which the school sits on the boundary of) and he again got in, i assumed as he had a sister in the school and again because although they ended up being full that year, it was obviously those out of the catchment too.

Our school is now getting a better name for itself and this coming september, i have heard that one of the parents hasnt got their child in even though they have a sibling there which is making me pretty worried that in a couple of years when DS2 starts, he wont get in because we do live pretty far out even though lots wont be in the catchment as they will be only just out of it ( there are people who would walk there in less than 2 mins that are out of catchment).

DD will have left but DS1 will still be there and i simply cannot move him as he SEN and has a statement linked with this school. It would be detrimental to his learning and wellbeing. AIBU to think that this could make a difference and how does it even work if you have 2 at different schools starting at the same time.

I'd do similar Goblin, but moving in for a couple of weeks won't be enough. They'd need to move in properly, even if only temporarily, and get the child benefit changed, as well as doctors, and council tax.

It could probably be done by pretending that OP and her DH have split up and then got back together after a year, but it's risky as places can be (and sometimes are) revoked even after the child has started.

Sorry my post was a major x post with yours op so basically all my suggestions won't work for you!!

Really there is nothing else that I can suggest at this stage, however you do need to get your head around the fact that you may not be able to do all the school runs. Many many mums can't due to work etc, you do get used to it.

Agree, Goblin, 2 weeks wouldn't be enough, 6 months might be enough, a year would be better. Still being in there when you had to confirm your address would be good.

Change all bills, doctors, and the other DCs address with the school obviously!

My dsis actually did split up with her dh at the time when her first dc was applying for the same school. She moved in with my parents as his family do not live near ao had nowhere to go. She stayed with them for 6 months during which time she applied and got the school place. She has now gone back to him. It was all very genuine, divorce started, mediation undertaken etc.

The school know where my parents live as it is very close to the school and as i am quite active within the school, i know a few people there. The school receptionist actually said to use their address as she had never known them look into it.

Could we just spare a thought for the only child, not looked-after or with Special Needs, living with both parents in a stable home, inside the catchment area, who will lose his/her place and have to travel to a school without friends or local connections if WonkyDonkey 123 gets her wish. And as for moving in with parents, not popular, unfair etc; actually lying , cheating, deliberate dishonesty are the correct words; fortunately schools and admission departments are not as stupid as parents think they are.

I dont believe goblin that anywhere on this thread i have said that it is my wish. I didnt actually state that the swapping would only be temporary. I just said we could swap houses. My parents house is a similar size to ours but for us to buy a similar house in the area would be too much. I meant i could actually swap permanently. Lets face it. The house may become mine in the future anyway.

The purpose of the thread if you care to read it properly was if my other sons special needs/statement would be taken into account. The statement is a legal document which names this particular school. Taking him out or not having me take him or having his brother not with him could affect his mental health.

The school receptionist actually said to use their address as she had never known them look into it

Year after my eldest started was year our LEA started looking at very closely - started wanting council tax numbers to verify addresses.

Plus other parents may get their noses out of joint - which I can understand if they’ve just missed out on a place - and make complaints about fraud.

Either approach your parents about doing an actual swap long term or look at what childcare arrangements you could use like child-minders etc.

Having DC at different school isn't an uncommon problem. It’s one I may end up with after our next move - 3 DC all at different primary schools.

There are some ideas of this thread about coping:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/2068289-Three-school-runs-and-so-so-fed-up

I very much doubt that the school receptionist has any inside knowledge of whether the local authority will or will not look into any house moves conveniently close to admission application deadlines. In practice these days they are much more savvy than people realise. However, if OP wants to do a genuine permanent swap with her parents there is no reason at all why she should not do so.

The point i made about my dsis kind of proves in a small sense that they didnt look too closely as it did look really suss ( even though it wasnt). She was literally staying with my parents from xmas to june. She didnt know how long she would be there but as she got back with her dh she moved out and back out of the catchment.

I think the receptionist said it as she thought they would have to check every child but i guess they would just look at the more suspect ones.

Not sure what to do. We cant afford to move into the catchment unless we completely downsize.

There isn't a whole lot you can do except apply and then appeal if you don't get in. I know it is hard and worrying.

Ds1 goes to a great school (Catholic though we are not religious at all. Significant later). We had to appeal to get him in but at the time we were confident as although it had small class sizes the school never turned down appeals and always managed (there are 17 in ds1's year which is a big year for the school). 2 years later we applied for dd. We fully expected to get in no problem as siblings always got in. We had to appeal again. The cut off point was actually in the Catholics so there were Catholic pupils having to appeal. I know that happens ti plenty of people but it was unheard of here. Thankfully dd got in but some appeals were turned down.

I really worry about ds2. I have a friend who also has 2 children at teh school and has a toddle the same age as mine. She lives a scant few metres closer than me and though of course I don't want her to not sent her child, our boys are best friends and I rather expect our toddlers will be too I do worry that those few metres are what it will come down to.

You've got two years, I'd have a look at moving into the catchment area if it was me. Good luck.

Goblin, your example child won't lose their place, they wouldn't be awarded it in the first place.

There would be nothing illegal about OP moving in with her parents. I appreciate it will not be completely honest if she did it and then once her child was settled at school moved back in with her DH, but I can't find the energy to be angry at parents who are just doing their best for their children's education.

If that child would have been awarded the place, had there not been a temporary rental which breaks the rules, then they have lost out. And just because they are anonymous right now doesn't mean their DC should be ignored in all this.

If it's a permanent move though, then she's doing nothing wrong. It's only temporary moves specifically timed for over the admissions period that mean cheating.

The council may not let you move the statemented child even if you want to! All the support etc is set up for where he is e.g need to make redundant and then recruit a different TA, equipment etc. The logistics of changing one mainstream to another without you moving to another part of the country is too hard to justify.

That's before they take into account the social and academic impact of moving him. Generally once a statemented child is placed they can't/won't move them unless for very good reason e.g to go from mainstream to a special school place. A younger sibling hitting school age isn't a good reason.

I'd look at transport policies for your council as they tend to do anything they can to avoid having to pay any transport costs. Or home ed for KS1 if you don't get in and go on the waiting list as usually by year 3 spaces become available once the infant class size rule is relaxed. It's likely that your youngest would miss reception but snag a year 1 place in practice.

Your other option is to start researching childminders now to do the school run for the younger child for where they can get a place just until their name comes up on the waiting list for your preferred school - lots of people I know have used this route to get round the whole mess.

The oldest one should be able to find her own way to secondary - not sure why you think you have to take her?

I thought it would be the case that i wouldnt be able to move DS1 because of his statement and hoped this would give me a good position to appeal if i didnt get DS2 in.

DH is not keen to move either to a new house or swap with my parents. We only moved a couple of years ago to the house we want to stay in and have spent a lot of money on it.

The secondary school is 5 miles from where we live and she would have to go on her own as none of her friends live near.

If the worst comes to the worst (which it might not) can you look into your ds1's statement being altered to allow him to use breakfast/after school club so you can get ds2 to/from school?

It seems very unfair that a child cannot use the breakfast/after school care because of SEN!

Also I would certainly look into your dd going to the secondary in your area so she can walk/use the bus.