Pros and cons of late registration with a private school (state school is a disaster, drastic action required!)

[CasperTFG]

I am not going to get into too much detail - but the first two weeks of a north London state school reception year has been seriously underwhelming for us and our DS.

(well here's a tidbit... ...at a parents night, one of DS's future teachers ran a powerpoint presentation for parent one evening at the school at one stage she felt the need to clarify to the assembled parents about a word she had been using (it was "numeracy") - she explained to us all "vat iz maffs"

Anyhoo...

We now find ourselves behind schedule for getting DS a place / interview for private school.

Are we at a disadvantage to get him a place now the year has started? Or should our money (and DS) be welcome?

Any tips on an emergency 'change of plan' involving sudden shift to private school much appreciated..

We ought to be able to get him in somewhere.. right?

Disaster.... DW is in floods, DS is mute and miserable...No PLU there at all...

In a rush to get him somewhere nice..

Help!

Thanks...

Keep your son at home until you find him a proper school. Given the current economic climate there will be parents who won't be able to keep the allocated place for their child and many schools do have unexpected free places.
Call all private schools within reasonable distance; do explain the dire situation your child is in and be prepared to pull serious puppy eyes and do a touch of drama etc.
Keep the poor child away from the hell-hole.
[awaits barrage of Primark bags and similar]

Goes to stand with seeker in the camp

Not all private schools will have spaces and not all would let a child start mid-term. Ours doesn't and wouldn't. Caspar's writing style reminds me of a journo.

Here's another for you, Casp.