Mid-year admission for primary school child- appeal

[RainbowRuby]

Hello! Posting in AIBU for traffic. We have moved back to the UK from abroad and I have 3 children. My older two have managed to get a place in different schools in our area but the youngest - Age 8 and Year 3 is on the waiting list in the schools in our catchment and one outside our catchment. Just spoke to council this morning, they said they have not been able to find any school with a spot. We have an appeal placed in our first choice and apparently the appeal will be looked at some time next week. Its now been one week since schools have started and longer since the appeal was lodged. My question is - what now? My youngest has been sitting at home as there are no places apparently in the city we are in. Will an appeal help her get a spot? Just trying to understand who do I need to chase next? We are in England. Thank you in advance!

You're lucky that your child is in year 3. That means that an appeals panel will have much more discretion to award you a place.

After 4 weeks of no education, the council could use the Fair Access Protocol to allocate your child a place.

Ultimately, don't worry, you'll get a place somewhere.

Thank you. Sorry, there is a typo - she will be starting year 4. Would that make it easier/worse? Also, there is no place in the city, is there a better chance that an appeal may get her into a school within the catchment area?

Older is better. The difference with younger year groups is that the maximum number on a class (aka infant class size) is much stricter and the criteria to be allowed to go over the maximum is hard to prove. Older year groups have a bit more flexibility to take an additional child to take their class size to 31.

No easier or worse. Once they are year 3+ there is no Infant Class Size legislation to stop the school increasing the class size.

You appeal for each school individually. Focus on reasons that you want the particular school, but mention that no school is offered.

Thank you all for your responses so far. Is there a possibility that no school place is offered and the appeal is also refused? I have currently appealed at 3 schools that are closest in distance to us.