Choosing a school

[Youyou]

I'm not from UK but I'm moving next month. I need to know how to choose a school for my 4 year old son

Which area will you be moving to?
System in England completelh separate from that in Scotland, and that in Wales!

Are looking at state or independent sector?

What are your priorities education-wise where you live now? (Any developmental needs/SEN)

Does DS speak English already?

I'm moving to England and I am looking for the state sector. He goes to a playschool in Egypt where they are not allowed to speak except in English but I'm not sure about the accent.

Is there a site where the schools are ranked?

When is your ds 5 ? You would have missed the normal application system so need to contact the Local Authority of the town you are moving to to see where there may be spaces or to go on waitng lists.

He'll be 4 in april

There are a lot more children applying for places in this age group than there have been for a long time, so places are scarce in a lot of areas - it's more likely to be that you will have to accept the place that is available, rather than you choosing from a list. If you want to let people know where in the country you are moving too, people will be ble to be more helpful, as systems are different in different parts.

So he would n't start school here until September in Reception. I think you need to move and then contact the LA. There are Schools League Tables but they aren't seen as definitive and lots of infant and private schools won't appear. Also the more popular schools will already be fully subscribed for September (notifications of places are due out in the next couple of weeks) so unless anyone subsequently declines a place and your ds is high up on the waiting list, he would n't now get a place there in time.

Bear in mind you probably won't actually have any choice - you'll get allocated a school by your LEA once you've moved. You won't have anychoioce in the matter.

I'm moving to London but haven't found a place there yet

You'll need a confirmed address before you can apply for a school place.

Sorry what is the " LEA" and "LA" ??????????????

LEA (Local Educatin Authority) and LA(Local Authority) will be the London Borough that you move into.

If you're planning on moving to London will have absolutely NO choice with schools whatsoever! Be prepared to travel a long way from where you live to the school you will be allocated!

Local (Education) Authority. In London this is normally the Borough you live in, although he could attend school in another Borough if that was closer to your home or the nearest with space available.

Thank you all

I'm afraid allocations for september will already have happened, so it really will be a case of accepting a place wherever they offer, sorry.

If you look on the website of whichever LA you come under once you've confirmed accommodation they will have contact details for Admissions, usually email is fine these days, but you won't be able to apply until resident- crazy I know.

you can also check inspectionreports on the OFSTED website.

My advice is get your cheque book out and pay, that's the only way you'll get a choice and it's often cheaper than moving into the "right" areas.

Think it is likely to be too late even for that Heswall.

We don't have a choice here for primary , for secondary we had a choice between grammar or comprehensive . We chose students who seemed more at ease, great facilties, great A Level results, good pastoral care , ambiton and rounded curriculum - at the comprehensive. No need whatsoever at pay.

So you don't have a choice at all, you either pass the 11+ or you don't that's not a choice it's an selection process.

It is a choice, you can choose whether to take the 11plus and even when you have taken it, as my son did, you can choose whether to take the place or not .

Heswall, about moving to the right area, does anyone have any recommendations about the areas I should be looking at for accommodation ?

Anywhere but London!

My husband will be working there so we have to move there

Are you looking to move into central London or the outskirts? Whereabouts will your husband be working in London?

Many people who work in London commute daily as the cost of living is sky high and property limited and expensive. There are plenty of smaller towns and suburbs within easy access of central London . If you could say whereabouts he will be based (and it may not even be that central as London is vast) then look for nearest mainline station and places along the train routes which arrive there.