In Year Admissions

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Hi everyone!
I'm new here and wondering if someone can give me some advice. We will be moving to Manchester or Sale area next year. That means our kids will need to apply for In Year Admissions for both primary and secondary schools. However, I noticed that most of the schools are pretty full, so when is it the best time to apply to have a good chance of a place? I was thinking June because it would be natural for other kids (as well as our kids) to finish the exams first.

Thanks a lot!

When you apply the LA must offer you a place. If that isn't at one of your preferred schools you will go on the waiting lists for those schools provided the school in question is operating a waiting list.

Thx prh47bridge! Does that mean there is a chance that my kids will be without a school if all of them are full? It's something I am trying to avoid

No, there is no chance of that whatsoever. The LA must find places for your children even if all schools are full. If necessary they can force a school to take additional pupils.

I moved last year and my children couldn't get into any of the 4 local primaries and I ended up home schooling until spaces became available

That really should not happen. The LA has a legal responsibility to find a place for your child. It may not be one of the local schools. It may not be a school you want. But they must find a place somewhere.

We moved to Manchester in September 2011 and my year one son was without any school place at all until the week after the October half term. By that point I had sought the help of local councillors and my MP and was on the brink of insanity. I know it shouldn't happen, but it does.

I know some LAs aren't very good at dealing with people moving into the area. But most will either sort it quickly without pushing. Most of those that don't will get a move on when threatened with referral to the LGO or when the parent starts appealing for their preferred schools. But yes, some are appallingly bad.

Gosh! It seems really frightening. I just hope the LA in Manchester has changed its stance over the years

To be fair to them, ds1 is in a massive bulge year and pressure on places for his year group has been huge throughout, and in 2011 we were all reeling from the cuts being imposed as austerity started to really bite... I don't hold a grudge about it, and they have been very helpful and efficient ever since. I do still twitch slightly at the memory of those days though!

Sale isn't in Manchester LEA! There's actually a few Local Authorities.

It did happen to me. My dd had no school for three months. No offer of any place at all in the huge county. Part of the problem I think was that each step of the process took so long.

Is there a space in school A?
Yes.
I apply
Two weeks later I get a letter saying there is no space
Is there a space in school B?
I apply
Etc.

I don't think it's the norm though!

It worked out for us eventually as I appealed for the catchment school and she got a place as it was her catchment school and we had been offered no place at all anywhere else.

The admissions people were absolutely terrible during the whole process.

Unfortunately the requirement for local authorities to co-ordinate in-year admissions was abolished a number of years ago, which can lead to the problem SavoyCabbage mentions. It is much easier when you can simply apply to the LA listing your preference schools. If the LA wants people to apply to individual schools I would recommend applying immediately to as many schools as possible rather than doing them one at a time.