You should put your name down for schools when you don't even have DC yet(?)

[stumblymonkeyagain]

First time posting on this topic for what will become obvious reasons.

DP (soon to be DH) and I are in the middle of purchasing our first home. Lovely family home in an area that has some great schools - both private and state.

DP keeps getting given advice to 'put your name down for schools as soon as you move in' even though we don't have DC yet. We plan TTC in 2019 when we've had time to save for mat leave.

Would I be wrong to think that it's only private schools that you 'put your name down' for so far in advance?

I thought state schools had some kind of fixed application period 1 or 2 years before your child is due to start and then you get assigned to one based on catchment areas and similar?

We're not going for private schools as I don't agree with them but that's not for this thread so I don't think we actually need to do anything about schools until we have DC in pre-school?

Any help appreciated as I don't want to assume and then realise we should have put names down for state schools and have f'd up!

You can only apply to state school during the applications window which runs from about September to mid-January of the academic year before entry.

Some private schools are first-come-first-served, so early registration is a good idea, but I've never come across one that accepts application so before the DC is born. Others accept only so many for an assessment, so you need an early registration for those too. Others assess all applicants, so any time before the deadline is fine.

Perhaps you could usefully direct your DH onto research into application procedures, and deciding which schools are actually likely to be a good fit for your family ethos, and which you stand a chance of getting an offer from?

Yes whoever is giving that advice to your DP is bonkers.

Thanks @AnotherNewt

That's what I thought....just wanted to check I wasn't missing something. DH will be tasked with school research once we actually have DC since he'll be primary carer and the one doing drop offs/pick ups.

Good to know it's not something we have to think about for a while though. DPs colleagues and clients clearly have lost the plot a bit...

I did tell him I would consult MN for the proper answer

I don't see how, even in the case of elite public schools, you CAN put a name down before conception anyway.

How would you know which school year you'll need?

I doubt even the poshest private school take applications for foetuses that won't exist for another 2 years

In case you need further MN proof, no you can't put your name down for a state school and anyone who says different is woefully out of touch with reality.

You make an application to the local authority with your 3 school choices (in order of preference) between October and January then you find out in April. Something like that anyway.

If you want to find out more, your local council website will tell you the process and all schools publish their admissions policy. The admission criteria normally follows something like -

1. Looked after children
2. Children with a SEN requirements
3. Siblings of existing pupils
4. Closest as the crow flies

It's just outdated advice. When I started school 40+ years ago my mom had put my name down for the school while I was in nursery.
It doesn't work like that now and you have to apply with everyone else and keep your fingers crossed you are in the catchment area that year.
Schools by us will take your details earlier but only so they can mail you with open evening information etc.

Sometimes people get confused by pre schools. You may have a child in nursery or with a childminder until they start primary, and you apply the year before reception as described above. Or you may want to use a pre school from around 2.5 years old until school - places for these often fill up quickly & you do need to put your name down early (though not before birth!). Although some pre schools are strongly associated with primary schools and often on the same site or nearby, attending the preschool means nothing in terms of admission to the primary school, and you still apply as described above. But I think people who went through the system a while back forget this step!

keep your fingers crossed you are in the catchment area that year.

Catchment areas are fixed and do not change from year to year without consultation. You're thinking of admissions areas, which vary depending on the location of the children admitted each year.

Having just followed another thread about school admissions, perhaps I'd put that on your admin list and leave your DH with something else!

DD went to a private nursery from 6 months as we both work. We were advised to put our names down for that when just pregnant and we were glad we did as only able to attend on certain days to start with as over subscribed.

However for normal school you've got nothing to worry about for years !

Private schools are highly selective nowadays so the days of putting your name down as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test are over. In state schools I doubt that would help you much-from what I know of them (admittedly not much) most of them pick out siblings/children from the local church first them choose the rest at random.

In state schools I doubt that would help you much-from what I know of them (admittedly not much) most of them pick out siblings/children from the local church first them choose the rest at random.

Is this a joke? I can't tell.

I know of a few nurseries that you have to put your name down for when pregnant to ensure that you get the days you want when the child is 6 months to a year old. However, I have never heard of a preschool or private school that will accept registration for a child who is not yet born. Having said that, there are a few (Wetherby is one) where you do need to register really soon after birth.

For state schools, you need to apply between September and 15 January before your child would start Reception. In London (and I think Surrey), you have to do this online. You get six choices (use them all) and need to give your child benefit number and council tax number.

I think people are just making a joke about the schools and the area, if it is an area well known for schools perhaps people don't know what else to really say. It is not something you need to even think about for 5/6 years. Nursery, on the other hand, might be, but still not until you are at least TTC - I'm sure there are more fun things to be doing now, you will spend enough time on this stuff as it is!

"In state schools I doubt that would help you much-from what I know of them (admittedly not much) most of them pick out siblings/children from the local church first them choose the rest at random."

Well at least you admitted you don't know much! This is complete an utter rubbish.

OP, are you sure the people telling your DH that didn't just assume you already have kids? It would only be reasonable (although fairly obvious) advice if you were transferring a child to a new school after moving or else moving in to the area as a "late applicant" for a Reception place.

Of course if you're planning to send your future child to a church school it's worth looking at the admissions rules before you move in, to make sure you will qualify. For instance, you might need to become a member of a local church and to start building up a regular church attendance record over a period of years.

I remember falling for this bonkers advice 12 years ago. I rang the schools and they dutifully took my name. They never invited me to an open day or contacted me again. We applied the normal way, of course. I think one of the school admins said they found it useful to have an idea of demand, but I doubt that's true. Tell your DH to relax but look out for open days and application deadline dates later on, it comes quicker than you think.

Yes for Nursery's and exclusive private schools like Radley College (need to check if this is still true). I'm not sure about Eton. Again you'll need to check current admissions.

Private schools are highly selective nowadays so the days of putting your name down as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test are over.

This is also utter nonsense. There are lots of non-selective private schools. DH's major, well known Public school takes kids (quietly) who apply a couple of weeks before the start of term.

There are still a couple of schools where you have to be quick off the mark to register, but I think they are becoming a rarity. I read a thread about Weatherby Prep that said they had no summer born children because parents could only register once the child was born and by June/ July the lists were closed each year!

Oh, and DHs school, although it would like to pretend it is selective, really isn't. DH checks boys can spell their own name and string a short sentence together, and bob's your uncle. There are also many, many Independent schools further down the 'selection' ladder than them, where presumably you only need to know your own initials.

Of course the need to have a spare £40k sloshing around annually is a selection criterion in itself.

There are still a couple of schools where you have to be quick off the mark to register, but I think they are becoming a rarity. I read a thread about Weatherby Prep that said they had no summer born children because parents could only register once the child was born and by June/ July the lists were closed each year!

Unless it's changed in the last few years, the registration at Wetherby was always five places per month - meaning that there is an even spread of birthdays but that you can't get your kid in if they're born later in the month...

Sherborne take boys at the last minute every year.

How do you know what year to put them down for?