are the LA obliged to find child a reception place in this instance?

[DrLizShaw]

An acquaintance of my cousin did not get any of her choices and was given a reception place at a school she did not want. Foolishly (IMO) she turned the place down. She's on waiting lists for her preferred schools but I was wondering what would happen if she had no offer come September? Are the LEA obliged to find her DD a place given she turned the one offered down? I'm just curious as to what her options may be now.

Yes, she can reapply as a late applicant. She cannot keep bombarding the LA with repeat applications for the same entry point. But they won't refuse one fresh application from someone who has made a mistake.

That will not however get her a place she likes any better. If her listed preferred schools are full, then she'd be offered the nearest one to her with a place. This might be one that she likes even less,or is more logistically difficult, than the one she rejected.

She is now no. 2 on the waiting list at her nearest school so it's actually looking more positive.

Yes Saracen she is feeling very foolish - she turned the place on the basis of a bad OFSTED report from two years ago and the school has since improved dramatically. She admits it was a very hasty decision.

Perhaps my use of the term 'kick up the arse' was unfair but I simply meant if I was able to speak to her directly I'd be badgering her. Knowing the struggle I had last year getting DS into school when the LA did have an obligation to find him place.

Sorry to crash the thread but warraliberty, could I pick your brain re the bulge class you've been involved with adding? You said you were asked 10 months before the intake, so before the applications had been done? so from this I gather the LA already knew there would be a problem for that year because of birth records?
The reason I ask is that my local village school has put on a bulge class for this year and by my calculations will struggle to offer places to anyone other than siblings in 2 years time. I have a child who should go there then and am really in a panic. Its an excellent school in walking distance but has been filled up by a new housing estate on the outskirts of the nearest town as our village is populated by mostly old people. I live in the village a third of a mile away from school. So do you think the LEA will already have foreseen this and possibly started thinking about what they're going to do? or should I resign myself to a 3 mile car ride for school.

Oh right, I see. It does sound like it was a rash decision to turn the place down then. Many people do seem to make decisions based solely on Ofsted verdicts, whereas I think the Ofsted report is just one clue to help focus your attention on certain points when you are visiting the school!

No worries Saracen. I know I sound like I'm gossiping but as she's a childminder my cousin has a vested interest because obviously the outcome will have a bearing on whether she will still be able to look after her mindees. So we know a lot of the details. I do think she's been foolish but I do also think the system could do with being clearer for many people. I'm sure she's not the only one who's made a similar mistake.

I tghink you're right, Dr, about the lack of clarity. Many people mistake being able to express a preference for being able to choose which school their child attends. And then some people seem to think (and perhaps your acquaintance is one of them) that the LEA has a secret supply of spare places at the most desirable schools, which they will make available at the last minute to people who put their foot down and refuse all other offers. It really doesn't work like that.