To decline my school place?

[LG123]

I'm so cross, just want to yell at admissions (I won't).

My daughter got offered a place outside of catchment as my catchment school os oversubscribed. They wouldn't have to provide transport because she's under compulsory school age so my tiny 4 year old would be expected to walk 2 miles each way everyday.

Bet all the ones that drive got their place at a school round the corner.

AIBU to tell them to jog the fuck on?

I'd decline/postpone until next year, if I were you, OP. It's all well and good others saying that walking 2 miles a day would be good for her - which, yes; good exercise, fresh air, etc. - but what happens when it rains, or snows even? She'd get wet and cold and have to stay thus all day at school, which isn't fair on the child at all (plus, you'd be walking double her distance, daily, too). Not to mention the over-tired/stimulated grizzlies after a full on day at school and trying to jolly them along on the walk home...!

My oldest (now 26) was a summer baby too, and I had a similar issue when she was 4 years old. I declined her place and deferred her starting school until she was 5 - and it didn't do her education any harm whatsoever (straight 'A' student, passed all of her exams with flying colours, took 2 GCSEs early, went on to get a decent degree and is now a marketing executive who's just bought her first house through her own hard work and determination!). At 4, she was walking a few miles daily, though, because I didn't drive back then - we utilised the time wisely, I think, as I know we chatted about anything and everything, and I'd get her to make up stories about the random oddities we saw as we watched the town we lived in waking up around us. I simply felt that she was still too young for a full school day at that age, so continued on as we had been until the following year. It's not for everyone, but it worked for us. Only you know your child, though, OP - but I hope it works out for both of you, as it did for me/my daughter.

@Kennykenkencat I seriously doubt that 'bumping someone off the intake list' so the LEA would save money would happen nowadays. Admissions rules are strict and set by the Admissions Code, and the person who was bumped off would win any appeal. I agree that the OP should not decline and should go on waiting lists, but ringing them about the transport costs will not magic up a place- they have to go by the rules.

@Pinkishpurple I'm on that group, if offered this school next year they would have to provide transport so no walk. Not to mention a year older anyway.

[quote ChildOfFriday]@Kennykenkencat I seriously doubt that 'bumping someone off the intake list' so the LEA would save money would happen nowadays. Admissions rules are strict and set by the Admissions Code, and the person who was bumped off would win any appeal. I agree that the OP should not decline and should go on waiting lists, but ringing them about the transport costs will not magic up a place- they have to go by the rules. [/quote]
Ringing about transport might not magic a nearer school place, but it might magic a place on the school bus. It's also really common that some people move or go private, so a space could still open up for OP on the waiting list for her nearest school if she manages to be patient for a few weeks.

Isn’t barely 4 very young to start primary school anyway? I’m in Ireland and most kids start when they’re 5. They do two years of pre school first and then primary school when 5 or almost 5 (like turning 5 in October/November)

How big is the nearest school @LG123, is it more than one form entry, so more chance of someone not taking up a place (although may be a longer waiting list)

@Whenyougonnalearn

Did you not have any idea that the school you applied for was popular and likely to be oversubscribed?

We specifically chose our property because we looked at past admission acceptance distances and made sure we were within the distance that had always been accepted in previous years

not sure how many people can afford to live next to an oversubscribed school tbh

@Tilltheend99

well then you don’t apply for it

OP you seem very aware of deferring and the benfits of starting at CSA. You don't have to answer, but i'm curious, is there a reason why you haven't already deferred your child?

[quote LG123]@passport123

I will be declining I think.[/quote]
Sounds like this is an opportunity/excuse for you to do something you wanted to anyway. I was the same with home ed. I declined my daughter's place to home educate while the situation was a bit unknown at school; forcing them off, then proscribing what we did at home. I took the opportunity, for now, to just educate her at home. She's doing so well we are continuing.

I love spending every day with her, I love witnessing her learn.

Do it. Take that time, you won't get that time back.

@BeeLady15

Isn’t barely 4 very young to start primary school anyway? I’m in Ireland and most kids start when they’re 5. They do two years of pre school first and then primary school when 5 or almost 5 (like turning 5 in October/November)

And in Finland they begin at 8.

What is your council’s policy on discretionary school transport? Councils have discretion to offer transport to those who are not eligible.

Definitely don’t decline it! We made this mistake when Dd was 4 and ended up with no school as they then don’t have to provide one. Just stay on all possible waitlists and keep everything crossed. We ended up having to go private, which was not good!

That’s neither here nor there Tillthe

If you apply for a school out of your catchment, Irrespective as to why you don’t live in that catchment, then moaning you didn’t get it makes no sense.

It’s an oversubscribed school out of catchment. The chances of getting it were always minuscule.

What I am now curious about is if any other schools were applied for and if they were in catchment?

Being affronted and tell council to effectively get stuffed when you weren’t allocated a school that you knew was out of catchment, and not applying for the schools within catchment (whether or not you like them) either is absolutely crazy.

Not saying that’s what happened but Iid it dis, no sympathy at all.

@MRex Yes, I agree 

@Whenyougonnalearn There is no harm in applying for an oversubscribed school you may not get into as long as you also list schools on your form that you stand a very good chance of getting into. You are not taking any risk in not getting into your catchment school by putting an oversubscribed school you prefer as a higher choice, as long as you do also list your catchment school somewhere. This isn't aimed specifically at the OP as I don't think they have clarified what they did with their preferences.

Accept the place. Appeal. And stay on the waiting list for the other schools
I had similar with secondary school for one of mine - there’s massive movement on the waiting lists I found the contact person on the LA very helpful
We got a place at our chosen school eventually

I never get this Summer born thing… my youngest and eldest are summer babies (both adults now) ; my eldest is right at the end of August. Neither had any problems fitting in with their cohort, or ‘suffered’ educationally in any way. Out the three of them, my youngest was at home with me , never going to any playgroups etc , till he started school nursery at 3 and a half. It has had no bearing on his academic ability at all!

I would say don’t put it off and go on a waiting list for where you do want, if you really dislike where they’re at .

@Whinge people bitching and whinging for wanting to 'keep her behind' 'she'll get bullied' blah blah blah. I knew I was right and I shouldn't try to please others.

I agree with PP, accept and appeal. You will be told your DD position on the waiting list, if you are in top 10 it is likely you will be offered a place - other children will have been offered a place at your school of choice that is not their first choice.
My son was offered a place at our secondary school of choice on transition day, so we did not have to attend the appeal, but we also had a backup of sending him to a private school, who were brilliant, I was honest about the fact we would only need the place if our appeal was unsuccessful and they were fine about that and held a place for him.

Don’t let the upset of not getting the place make a decision you will regret, once the anger and tears have stopped you will be able to think about this more clearly.

@jamdonut just because YOUR children were fine doesn't mean they all thrive. You're right you don't understand, there is plenty of research in to the summer born disadvantage and we are also one of the only countries to send at 4. One size doesn't fit all, just because Timmy was okay, doesn't mean Charlie will be.

There are down sides though. People are just sharing their experiences. Coming onto already established groups of friends is hard. Harder for those who struggle socially.

Not knowing the routine akd missing the induction days can also make things a little harder.

In some cases quite possibly yours its the right thing to do. But that doesn't mean uts going to be some seamless transition and pointing that out doesn't deserve the strop.

Thanks everyone, I have declined the place and will start the process of delaying. She will not be attending school in September.

Also.i don't know what your school does nut my dds primary is a 2 firm.entrey. St the end of reception the classes are re jigged fir year 1. So that the boy/girl balance is restored ( when people.leave/join) and those with complex needs are divided up more evenly. So.missing reception would mean your child kinda nissed a year of being assessed and put into a class more able or more evenly distributed. Could mean a bit of a harder start also while they get to know her

@LG123

Thanks everyone, I have declined the place and will start the process of delaying. She will not be attending school in September.

🤦‍♀️

I fear you've just shot yourself in the foot there OP. You really should have slept on it rather than knee jerk.

Anyhoo what's done is done. Make sure you're now clear on what to do to secure her a place next year, ensuring that she gets to do reception. Have a real think about what she does next year as well. Nursery can get very young very quickly for 4 year olds so a mix with a stand alone preschool or a nursery attached to your preferred school might be a good idea.

@Whatwouldscullydo they won't be an established group of friends, she will go into reception, just like she would this year. Her nursery room is full of children who will be in reception next year.

People's opinions don't matter, they are coming from people who haven't deferred. I've only met people who regret not delaying not ones who actually regret delaying.