Moved area; 2 children given places in 2 different primary schools

[Stumpfest]

Has anyone been in this situation before and what did you do?

I have dd6 in y1 and dd4 in R, we've just moved areas and been given a school 1.8 miles away from our house for dd4 and dd6 has been given a place at a different school 1.9 miles in the complete opposite direction. I cant drive and have an 18 month old to also lug around on the school run.

I could just about hack doing the school run with them if we were going back and forth to 1 school but I have no idea how on earth we can make this arrangement work until a place becomes free for either sibling at either school. Can't afford to do before/after school club to stagger pick up/drop off and even if we could that would still mean one child is walking a ridiculous amount of miles per day.

We had to move and I just have no idea what to do. Dd 4 is a June baby and is really struggling with getting to grips with school as it is.

Would you be happy with either school? If you are, accept the place for your oldest child, and join the waiting list for DC2.

Come September we'll have DD in one primary, DS2 in another and DS1 in a secondary across town. Fortunately I can drive and both boys only have one year left at their schools.
Good luck OP, I'd imagine keeping your youngest back a year is probably your best option.

We nearly moved and would’ve been in this situation. We were told the council would provide transport for one of them- worth checking.

I would go for the older child’s school, and keep your little one at home and homeschool as she’s young and struggling. Then by the time a place comes up at the elder child’s school she might be more ready.

If she is still 4 you can keep her off. Either putting her into year 1 or leave her as deferred.

Have you made a list of every local school even ones that might not seem the best and go to see them?

Don't accept the situation that's for sure. 2 miles isn't ideal but as you say it's okay if taking them both. They could scoot or cycle or enoy the walk in nice weather anyway.

"Ask the council if you qualify for transport. We had similar and my eldest child was given a taxi to school."

To be eligible for transport a school would need to be more than 2 miles away.

@underneaththeash

Well if there's no place, there's no place. What did you expect would happen?

Wow.... and the 'world's most helpful' award goes to......Just because you think it's true doesn't mean it's okay to be rude!

Might be worthwhile learning to drive. With three (or more) kids this is likely to happen again.

As they are both so young I would definitely fight to have them together as you have such a long stretch of primary ahead of you.

And for the rude poster saying there is no place. Actually the local authority and schools do need to put children and family needs into their consideration they could add a child to a class.

I agree with calling all schools in close proximity plus the ones you've been given. We moved our DC and the schools had much more up to date information about places than the council.

My friend is in this position now with year 1 and year 3. She has to send to two different schools until a place comes up and either school for the other child. The schools have to understand they may be late in the morning there's nothing else they can do till a place comes up

Might be worthwhile learning to drive.
OP said they can't afford after school club, so what are the chances of being able to afford to learn to drive. Some people can't, from circumstances or health reasons. I doubt it's never occurred to her, and wouldn't solve her problem for a while anyway.

I’d suggest you post in primary education and some fab posters like @admissions can advise

I will ask the council about transport but I think it needs to be over 2 miles to qualify but I'll still ask.

I have a medical condition that means I can't drive and no longer have my husband. We have had possibly the worst year imaginable and here we are now living as close as possible to where we used to live but still 30 miles away from family.

I think I'll keep the youngest at home until we can get both a place, although I'd rather not move my eldest school again if a place came up for both somewhere but it seems the only sensible options.

Thank you to everyone who has commented, my head is swimming so it's been useful to have anecdotes and suggestions!

Firstly what is the closest school to your home and how far away is it.

Next question which is the most convenient of the offers. I’d look to place that’s been offered there if they allow siblings a higher priority.

Go on wait list for another.

@underneaththeash

Come off it! You absolutely did mean to be rude. And you weren’t stating the obvious actually because you have absolutely no insight as to whether either school does have a place and council has made a boob, or if one might become available short term. The OP asked for advice for her next steps not for us to guess whether the admissions threshold had been met

@StepAwayFromGoogling

Appeal. A friend of mine had this. Apparently most schools have a maximum set by total number of pupils at the school, not by class. So if there is a place in any class in any of the years you can argue your case based on that.

Not in KS1.

Write to your local councillor and MP and ask for help.

Is there a third school that might be further but could accommodate both?
Also suggest calling both schools and calling the council? I know sometimes schools may have inside knowledge of people about to move where spots will be coming up

I would keep the youngest at home until a place becomes available at the other school, you might qualify for transport to the school that’s 1.9 miles (depends how the measure the distance).

Fingers crossed a place will come available pretty quickly, sounds like you have been through enough 😞.

I would check if there are any other schools in the area. Maybe there's a church school for example, or one slightly further away that could take both. Failing that, definitely tell the schools/council of your predicament.
It sounds like the 4 year old might benefit from a break anyway.
Are you able to ride a bike? 2 miles is not far on a bike as long as you have a route that is safe for the 6 year old. You could have the others on your bike or on a tagalong. That would be better than walking 8 miles a day. (still only viable if they're both in one school I suppose though)

Appeal. Keep youngest out of school until it is sorted

Please appeal.

For struggling families, this kind of treatment is yet another blow where the children end up suffering the most ... more interrupted education.

Yes, schools are over subscribed. But that's a governmental failure to fund them properly and remember the reality that people have to move for jobs, for relationship breakdowns, for losing existing housing, for providing care to older relatives, etc ... so many normal but necessary reasons. And their children still need to go to school near where they live!

Very common I’m afraid - I’d move and put them on each other’s waiting list and just grin and bear it until a space comes up.