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?

Why have you declined? You have nothing to gain by declining! You could have held onto the place until September and also waited for a closer school. Doesn't make any sense at all!

@Twizbe

I know the process. I withdraw my application for a place this year and apply in the next round - you can't keep your place for next year anyway.

I don't know why people keep saying appeal. Unless you can prove a mistake was made you WONT WIN. ICS legislation says there can't be more than 30 in a class. Admissions have done their job and allocated those 30.

If a mistake had been made, Admissions would have / will rectify it.

Sit on the waiting list.

@AuspiciousKat because I've decided to DELAY entry.

Christ, do people read threads or just comment willy nilly.

@Whatwouldscullydo

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.

Why would there be already established friendship group or missing induction days . The OPs DD would start in reception, not Yr1

@Whatwouldscullydo she won't miss reception.

@RosstopherGeller thank you 😩

I'm sorry if I'm getting arsey but people just don't read!

I wanted a rant sorry guys.

I wasn't aware they could re start reception. It was at one point that they would have to start in yr 1.

If it has changed great. Makes it a bit easier. However I can say speaking from experience that being the oldest in the class also has its downs sides.

It might be worth speaking to the pre school and getting their input ready for next yr too

For someone who claims to be non confrontational, you do actually sound pretty confrontational.... and like you've made a very snap decision in a matter of hours!

If you wish to delay her starting, that is no problem.... I just don't see why you needed to decline today - you could have looked at your options more thoroughly and declined after that.

Well speaking as an August child who wasnt deferred my advice would absolutely be to defer. If you asked my mum she'd tell you all was fine. I wasnt fine. Very few just 4 year olds are physically, socially, emotionally and academically as developed as 5 year olds. The extra year gives them so much.

Very aggressive OP.

Yes some people came in asking questions to which you’ve given info, but you can also expect others opinions here - rather the point of a thread isn’t it.

If it’s out of catchment, why on earth do you think you will stand a better chance next year.

The rules apply to everyone, not just other people.

[quote LG123]@Whatwouldscullydo she won't miss reception.[/quote]
Maybe not.
But they won’t just let her start secondary school if she’s too old for her year!

They don’t automatically do that! You are mistaken to think they do.

She can’t be in sixth form in an academic year in which she turns 19! They don’t allow it.

This will have knock on effects.

I think you need to check the process.

Last year when we applied summer borns had to accept their offer and then apply to defer. They could either start later in the year or go straight to year 1. Your LA might be different but you need to double check all these things BEFORE declining your place.

My other point still stands. You need a proper plan for this year. My son was 4 and a half when he started school, by that age you might find your DD has outgrown nursery and needs something more school like. A lot changes quickly at this age.

[quote LG123]@RosstopherGeller thank you 😩

I'm sorry if I'm getting arsey but people just don't read!

I wanted a rant sorry guys.[/quote]
It isn't clear what you are ranting about.

You have decided you want to defer your child for a year, so it doesn't matter what school place she did or didn't get. You should however be reading up on the deferment process, and shouldn't have cancelled your place until you hear back.

Being offered a school you don't want and transport issues are both separate matters, neither of which would be best handled by declining the place and either of which might have been resolved if you calmed down a bit. You're going to struggle to get what you want if you attack everything like a bull in a china shop, at least with the deferment process you really need to try to be more calm and rational in your approach.

Why did you apply then if you say she isn't ready and have declined the place anyway?
Or is it that you've thrown your toys out of the pram because you didn't get the school you thought you should have because you 'don't drive'?
My DD now 17 is an August baby. She did seem awfully young going to school nursery at only just three and then into reception at only just four, so I can understand you not wanting her to go but it seems like it's because you didn't get the school you wanted.

You've made a balls up there, OP and if you display the same attitude as you've displayed on this thread in real life, you'll be Whistling Dixie when the next round comes along.

By the way OP, do you know of your will get 30 hours childcare still next year if the local authority decide not to accept your deferment because of applying too late?

*if you will
Stupid auto-incorrect.

I'm afraid you have made a mistake. There's no going back now, your place will now be given to another child so you carnt now change your mind. The council has now done their bit by offering a school declining it will get you nowhere. I hope for your child's sake they do offer her reception next year but it so no way a sure thing. There is also no guarantee she will offered an out of year place in secondary especially if you want an academy. You should have waited.

[quote LG123]@comealongponds

Seriously considering delaying her start. Wanted to anyway.[/quote]
This would be my choice

It reads to me the OP was waivering from the start (as she was already in summer-born delay starting group), as her DD has some mild issues/immaturities and the allocation has confirmed to her that it is best to delay.

It is unfair to have a system where the LA can refuse to provide transport until CSA. Particularly for summer-born children who will be the youngest yet have no transport entitlement until Yr1, but their autumn-trrm peers can have it from starting full-time in reception.

The OP has repeatedly stated her LA allows summer-born to delay starting reception, the DfE has the guidance published which states it is expected they stay within their adopted year.

@Plumbear2

I'm afraid you have made a mistake. There's no going back now, your place will now be given to another child so you carnt now change your mind. The council has now done their bit by offering a school declining it will get you nowhere. I hope for your child's sake they do offer her reception next year but it so no way a sure thing. There is also no guarantee she will offered an out of year place in secondary especially if you want an academy. You should have waited.

👆🏻This! Chances of an out of year place is almost non-existent. They simply can’t do them that easily.

She will be missing a year at some point if she doesn’t start reception this year like it or not.

Best way back from this is to attempt a late start this coming academic year, or go straight to year one if you wait a whole year.

And missing the reception year, I would say having four kids is a big deal

Very silly OP.

Not read the whole thread sorry, but it sounds like you've decided to defer anyway, regardless of the transport issue, which is a perfectly valid option. However, if the transport is what is stopping you sending her I would hold fire for a bit and see if you can talk to someone fairly senior in the actual transport department as when they know who they will be taking where, there might be a space they are willing to offer.

We get the same kind of situation with sixth formers in our area. They don't have a right to school transport but if there are spaces on the buses leaving their villages once all the younger kids are allocated places then they are allowed to take up the empty seats. You might find it's not as cut and dried as the first person you speak to says. I know a few people local to us who have initially been refused but have eventually got sorted when someone with the seniority to make decisions recognises that having a half empty minibus literally drive past their front door makes no sense.

@RosstopherGeller

It reads to me the OP was waivering from the start (as she was already in summer-born delay starting group), as her DD has some mild issues/immaturities and the allocation has confirmed to her that it is best to delay.

It is unfair to have a system where the LA can refuse to provide transport until CSA. Particularly for summer-born children who will be the youngest yet have no transport entitlement until Yr1, but their autumn-trrm peers can have it from starting full-time in reception.

The OP has repeatedly stated her LA allows summer-born to delay starting reception, the DfE has the guidance published which states it is expected they stay within their adopted year.

Guidance means nothing when spots are at a premium!

You can’t reject a correctly aged child, for a school spot, just because one parent wanted to hold back their child.

That is open till legal challenge.

You also can’t admit a child who will become an adult (19) during the sixth form year - whole set of other issues there too.