Moving to a new County with 3 DC - admission tips please!!

[loler]

I have 3DC Yrs 1,3 & 5. We're moving 100 miles to new job in March. 2 huge primaries (400 in each - we are moving from a 80 place school so seem enormous) within walking distance - only one can offer one yr 3 place and only after we are in County. We are part exchanging so have a set moving date (not sure if this will make any difference?)

I've been told by current and new LEAs that I can only apply 3 wks before we move to go on waiting list. I particularly like one of the schools as it's a non-church school. As all the surrounding primaries are Church schools can I put this down as a valid reason on an application?

Has anyone else had similar experience? Any tips on getting into a school welcomed please!

In-year applications work differently. Basically if the school you like has places they will give you a place.

If they don't, the LEA will find you one somewhere else.

You can express your preference, but if there is no place, there is no place.

Bear in mind there may already be a waiting list for your chosen school.

None of the local schools have places - closest one I can find is about 5 miles away. The one I like most say they only have space for one of the DC but can't say that it's our space until we live in County. None of the schools will put us on a waiting list until we live in County either.

The LEA won't speak to me as they say I have to go through my current LEA - so haven't got a clue where I may get the DC into - the one 5 miles away was only from one of the other Primary schools saying they knew they had spaces.

I'm a complete control freak and this uncertainty is killing me - must add

Which years are they going into? If it is year 3 or above you have a much better chance of winning an appeal. I would look at the specifics of each school and what they offer for each of your children. Look at each child and school separately. I wouldn't particularly use the church school argument, as all UK community schools are supposed to be broadly Christian. Also Church schools do vary a lot, as do community schools.

I thought that Even if you were out of county, regardless if where you live, if you apply for a school place and there is one available, they must award it to you???
If you were willing to travel so to speak. Timings might not be right but I think what they told you is factually incorrect for the y3 place.

That is correct but you must apply through your current LA and you generally have to take up the place within a few weeks of accepting the offer. For a family moving 100 miles in 3 months time I suspect that isn't really practical. If there is still a place at this school a few weeks before the move date it may be worth the OP going down this route.

I managed to find a very helpful person to speak to in my current LEA. It was worth ringing a few times to get to speak to the right person.

She's helped me find a few schools that will show us around, one of them even has space for all 3 dc! Feeling a whole lot better about things.