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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have got the reception application all wrong :-( please help!

66 replies

Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 18:59

We moved to a new area last month so obviously old application was I longer valid ( moved 60 miles away )
Put in an application for son to start school, put 4 schools down, all religious as we are.
Didn't hear anything so on advice from a friend who works for the council for another area advised I ring admissions and request a vacancy list of all schools with places within 5km. That came, not one school listed. They had sent one with a vacancy that was 8 miles away under 10km list and out of sheer panic I contacted the school and asked if they had a place
They said one and I thought it was better than nothing so even though very poor ofsted and distance I added it onto my list of prefernces and was given it on Monday. I emailed accepting it, spoke with the school and son was due to start today. I was unaware if we would be entitled to travel allowance so made an application yesterday.
Go to do the school visit today and it took 1 hour and 20 mins :(
It is going to cost a fortune in petrol, and I also have to factor in the fact I have another son a year younger who no doubt will get a place in our new area and how do I get them to 2 different schools in completely different areas? How do I start a son in year 7 here with one in year 6 there?
Even if they pay the mileage they don't pay for round trips so I would have to wait all day in the schools area which isn't feasible as was hoping to increase my working hours ( currently work evenings )
I have now refused the place, it's too long a journey, if the car breaks down there is no public transport at all leading there and I feel it would be very disruptive as I would move him for a local school straight away.
Time is not on my side as he's 5 in 2 weeks and my sons application needs to be in by jan for next year too.
What can I do now? I have put 6 schools on waiting lists, including all schools within 2 miles and one just slighly over as I could walk to all of these at a push.
Would I have any appeal grounds as only put that school as no schools within 5km? Or because they have given me one of my prefernces it's now job done?
I spoke to them and they have said if no luck on the waiting lists they will look again in January for him when he's at legal age but that's all they've said.
Please offer some advice, I wanted to do the best by him but I really don't think a primary 8 miles away is feasible.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 20:46

I am on 6 waiting lists, the top 2 being catholic / Church of England and heavily oversubcribed, the third being my most local school, 0.6 miles away, fourth 0.9 miles away, fifth 1.5 miles away and 6th 2 miles away as could walk all if needed to. I haven't left any close schools off, I've included ones with bad results even as I'm aware these may come up quicker.
They have said I can only submit a new application " in year application " when he is about to turn legal age of entry, they have fulfilled their duty for now.

OP posts:
Imperialleather2 · 10/09/2015 20:52

Did you go along the a217 and through Reigate?

Why dont you try cutting through banstead/woodmansterne Chipstead to Redhill and then on to Horle
my colleague drives From Sutton to crawely and it takes about 1/2 hour

Northernlurker · 10/09/2015 20:56

You can certainly home educate him for one year. There's loads of help online etc and especially as you have two so close in age I think it could work well. then you just forget about schools now. Put down realistic catchment options for your younger son and look at getting your older one in on the sibling basis.
Reception is all about learning through play. You can certainly cover what he needs to and not hold him back at all. Just reduce the stress for all of you.

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 20:57

Imperial - that's the way we went.
It was awful, but realistically we just can't afford it. Our car is only 1.2 litre however would cost a good £100 a month if I wanted to come home inbetween which we just don't have.
When can I apply for an in year admission?
Could the MP assist with this as people keep advising me to get them involved as there were NO school places within 5km

OP posts:
LIZS · 10/09/2015 20:58

I would have thought your current application was in-year Confused.

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 21:01

No this was a late application not in year as submitted in july

OP posts:
Deetrix · 10/09/2015 21:06

I'm not sure what you mean LIZS? Being offered a place because one is available (i.e another child having 'more' priority e.g sibling) will not stop the LA from having to go over numbers at a nearby school.

Have you asked why you can't submit your In Year Transfer sobloody? Had you moved mid-september (as in, right now) that's exactly the form they would give you. I only left admissions last year (from the website, surrey seems to have similar policies we did) and I am shocked they would refuse you both a change of choice (to your new starter application) AND an in year transfer.

Seriously, don't be fobbed off, they are overworked. Submit your In year transfer anyway, they will have to write to you with the reasons why they won't accept it. Go ahead and submit an appeal too and use the distance to your nearest school with a place available as part of your case.

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 21:16

No the first application was a late application we moved here in July
Didn't hear anything hence my panic of requesting vacancy list and trying this school 8 miles out.
From what they said I can't start an " in year " transfer until just before he is compulsory school age in January :-(

OP posts:
Deetrix · 10/09/2015 21:24

Apply anyway sobloody! Did they explain why you hadn't heard anything from your new starter application?

Also, please don't worry too much!

If for example, they actually made you wait until January to apply, which would be shocking and you'd have every right to submit a complaint about the department - every child that wants a school place, HAS to be given one - if he was offered one within 2 miles, then you'd have no grounds - he hasn't. They have a duty to your child.

But anyway, say they didn't. You'd reapply in January - he would be classed as a home schooled child and his application would then follow fair access protocols, which would likely label him as a 'hard to place' child. This is not as bad as it sounds! What it means is that several colleagues, possibly a panel (rather than just admissions) would look at the application, decide on the best school suited for him (within 2 miles) and direct that school to take him.

So actually, it would have the exact same result as you applying now, which is why it mystifies me that they say you can't right now.

Some LAs employ call centres, these individuals are not admissions officers - apply anyway, appeal anyway. That piece of paper cannot so easily be fobbed off as you just being another caller.

Deetrix · 10/09/2015 21:27

I suspect the reason you hadn't heard back was because they were trying to decide on/persuade a local school to go over numbers. This used to delay applications by several weeks in my team. Then you added another choice and they were very pleased to be saved the work!

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 21:29

Thanks for your help.
I did ask why I couldn't get the ball rolling and do the in year admission now and they said because he is not statutory school age so to submit this one in December and they should offer one within 4 weeks so for the January term.
That would mean he wouldn't be classed as a home schooled child at that point though as doesn't have to be educated until January so may not help me ;-(
I am on 6 waiting lists, I just wish I hadn't put it as a prefernce I've well and truley shot myself in the foot haven't i

OP posts:
mummytime · 10/09/2015 21:34

Sorry - but I'm confused about which LA you applied to. If you live in Sutton surely you applied to the London Borough of Sutton not Surrey County Council? Whereas Horley is in Surrey.

Deetrix · 10/09/2015 21:34

He would have been in my team. Even if he's not classed as home educated in Surrey, they will still have to follow the in year transfer procedure - which will have the same outcome - a school within 2 miles.

It won't hurt at all to ignore them and apply now, the worst they can do is respond and say 'we can't process this because of x, y and z...' in writing.

He is the correct age for this year group, it sadly sounds like they are just throwing the legal 'minimum' age at you so that they don't have to deal with it. I used to get at least 50 In Years a week, many from children that were four and still in reception looking to move. All were processed.

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 23:24

I think I will complete an in year application tomorrow and see what they say, as you say the worst they can say is no although you can only put 3 choices which is a shame as there are 6 I would accept. I guess I'll put the 3 favourites and see what happens.

Just to clarify we are the cheam end so just as it turns to surrey so not Sutton borough council

OP posts:
Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 23:25

I'm jusy so worried they will say no sorry we offered you a school you put down so not assisting any further

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 10/09/2015 23:43

Can I just clarify something here? You're talking about Y6 and Y7 here and saying he isn't compulsory school age. This is confusing and possibly confusing the issue here and with the local authority.
Children start school in YR (reception) at 4 usually. They go into Y1 the following year at 5. Y6 children would be 10-11.
It sounds like you are associating Y5 with 5 year old children. If you're looking at spaces for Y5 then that's wrong.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 10/09/2015 23:48

You can apply for schools as an in year application BUT because you have rejected a place that was offered to you, the local authority aren't obliged to make you a second offer at this stage. You will be able to go on waiting lists in the mean time but that's it. If you win an appeal (complicated as you'd have to show a procedural failure in infant appeals) then you could get a place.
You could be without a place, sorry :(

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 10/09/2015 23:58

That's not what they've said, they have to make me another offer, just not yet, when he becomes compulsory school age which isn't until January.

OP posts:
RockinHippy · 11/09/2015 00:09

Definitely apply anyway & speak with one of your local councillors, they can help - see which ones c.v. fits what you need best & contact them. Ours was a more complicated situation by far, but our MP made things worse - our local councillor was fantastic & DD had a school place by the same afternoon

Local councillors deal with anything local government - let them know that you felt pressurised into taking an unsuitable place as you panicked as they gave the impression there was nothing else

Good luck

PastaLaFeasta · 11/09/2015 00:17

Definitely go see your MP or call their office. You can also write to the dept of education but via MP is better as you'll get a ministerial response which is quicker. However, if no luck it will be ok, January will fly by and there are plenty of resources for phonics at home etc. Reception is fairly relaxed so he shouldn't have a lot to catch up on in the first few months. It's not a disaster but don't stop pushing - be the squeakiest wheel!

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 11/09/2015 00:22

The problem with January flying by is my younger sons application has to be in by the 15th :-(

OP posts:
OvertiredandConfused · 11/09/2015 00:23

If you are including denominational schools, do check if they have additional entry requirements as part of their over subscription criteria. Mine do. That means there's little point putting them as choices if you don't meet the additional requirements

Original poster
Sobloodyworried123 · 11/09/2015 00:52

We are practising Catholics so do meet the criteria but they are over subcribed by 40 therefore have also put all local schools too

OP posts:
LIZS · 11/09/2015 07:34

But they won't be looking for another school for op at present as they think she's happy with the Horley one. Confused as iirc none of the schools there are rc and only a newish one has any Religious connection so seems a somewhat random choice. I think you need to go back and start again with LA asking where currently has spaces as you have realised it isn't feasible. Also consider the neighbouring London boroughs. I'm doubtful that a rc school is going to be among those with vacancies but at least if ds1 is nearer you can apply for one of your local choices for ds2 and get ds1 on their waiting list awing sibling link. It should be more manageable even if you have to wait until y3. You don't need to wait until January to contact them again, although they may technically be under no legal obligation to cooperate until then and I don think they'd be looking to force a school to go over numbers anywhere yet as it would set a precedent.

Pranmasghost · 11/09/2015 08:37

Have you tried The Friary in Crawley?