We moved out of the UK when our eldest was in Reception. We're planning to move back to our old house next year over the summer, by which point we will have one going into Yr3, one Yr2 and one will about to start Reception. We can't move earlier than the summer unfortunately.
How do these things work? Our house is currently rented out and we don't yet know whether we will move directly back into it or rent somewhere else short term as a bridge.
Assuming we move straight back in, which is our preferred option, the LA obviously has a record of us at that address and we can prove ownership. I assume also that we will be able to show in advance that the tenancy is ending and any other documentation to show we are moving back.
When should I start discussing school places with the LA? We are keen to return to the school we left and hear that what will be Year 3 has plenty of places as it was a bulge class in an area with lots of movement, including kids likely to move to prep school at that point. So we are reasonably confident that there may be a place for our eldest next autumn. But obviously there is no certainty for the others, even though they will go to the top of the waiting list if their sibling gets a place. I also know that we ma be lucky with the Reception one as there is usually lots of movement on the waiting list in that area over the summer before starting. At what point will they be prepared to offer places? The day we actually move back? I know that they won't 'hold' places for any length of time but if we were moving in August might they be able to offer a place for the autumn at the end of the summer term?