Primary school admission complex situation

[Millionnewnames]

Not sure where we stand…
Ds due to go into reception this September. Which is now days away. He doesn’t have a place. We started the process of moving house in December and there has been so many balls ups along the way we’ve just had it confirmed that we are moving into the new property in a couple weeks . It’s in an outer London borough if that makes any difference, different LA to where we are now.
DS has had issues with hearing and a speech delay that has him communicating about 18 months behind. Other than that he’s bright and talented he can actually write a bit even though you can barely understand him talking. He’s been reliably toilet trained day and night since 2.5, can dress himself make snacks etc , he’s horribly stubborn and prefers to do things on his own ( just to give an idea of what he’s like)
Anyway, with no current school offer ( we declined the random one allocated from the LA we are leaving) I’m just trying to work out what might happen next…
There is a school about 50 yards from the end of our drive. It’s great, ticks every box. It’s also oversubscribed. Presumably he’ll join a waiting list behind others?
The next nearest is too far for me to travel to as I have mobility problems and don’t drive .
So if it’s not the school next door I don’t think I can realistically let him start anywhere.
I work from home. I can’t homeschool him though, it’s out of the question . He needs the social interaction and the opportunity to be around adults who are well and normal .
I think if the LA can’t / won’t put him in the school on our road , I’d be looking at paying a small fortune for a childminder to do all the running about , I’d lose money and may aswell just let him stay indoors and try and make use of the garden. Id have to stop work. He’d not see any other kids though and he’s already a bit odd/ awkward.
He was at nursery all week prior to this and thrived.
I think my rambling is basically asking will he get priority given he has no allocation, my disability and the close proximity.
Will he perhaps have to start on the next intake and me find some help to educate / care for him privately in the meantime?
Any thoughts or knowledge welcome as I’m absolutely clueless .

We were unable to get a place for our Eldest DS in the village school (less than 5mins walk from our house) despite my disability and he was placed in a school in the closest town. However because it was further than walking distance I was given money for my fuel by the education authority, if I couldn't drive it would have paid for a taxi for him. However be aware the payment was only for him so travel to the school in the morning and from the school in the afternoon, my travel back wasn't covered. If he had got a taxi the same would have applied so I wouldn't have been able to accompany him even though he was only 4.
We were a bit more settled than you as we moved in the July for the September start.
He stayed in the wait list was finally offered a place in the village school when he was in year 5 which we declined as he was then settled.
His little brother is now at the village school.

Just wanted to wish you luck OP, it doesn’t sound easy. From my understanding you’d need to employ a childminder because you can’t walk far enough to the other school rather than because of working hours?

We had similar, moving from the other end of the UK so obviously declined the LA place that’s now a plane or ferry away but couldn’t apply for the place locally until we had proof of address.

Am sure you're aware @Millionnewnames that the waiting list will be administered according to the admissions criteria so he may go down the list if people also apply with 'higher rated' admissions criteria.

@MyDcAreMarvel
Thanks . If needs be I might do that. It only truly solves the problem if the nursery there can take him though or I can swing it that a CM is willing to do the driving for me in a way that I can get all the fees funded. Money’s mega tight. I was lucky he was at a nursery literally opposite my house for the past 2 years and I paid 240 a month on top of his funded hours for full time. It made life doable. I’ve been short sighted to think this would always be the case. On the other hand, I’ve a big op booked in December which may improve my mobility dramatically and make things easier. My lovely sister suggested I get a large dog and train it to ferry him about if only life were like story books !

@Twilightstarbright
Thanks. It’s tricky isn’t it? To be honest the first school offered here would have been a nightmare to get to anyway even if we’d stayed. Part of the reason I fought tooth and nail for this new house is the school proximity and it’s a 10 min bus ride from a big hospital that does everything we need. He’s already in the waiting list apparently even though he’s outside the borough currently. Once we’re 3 doors away I’ll be sending the proof the instant it’s all signed.

Some schools have a 'health and access' category which prioritises children who can demonstrate a need to attend a particular school, and this can be on the basis of a parent's health condition, not just the child's. So it might be worth looking into that. The bar is often set pretty high though.

This might sound stupid, but are you certain that your new house is within the school catchment area?
Sometimes the nearest school isn’t actually your catchment one. Even if only 3 houses away.

Have you spoken to the local education authority in the new area?

The waiting list will be held in admissions priority order, so if you are very close to the school, that should put you high on the list. Some schools have an admissions category for social/medical need, which is a higher priority than places awarded on distance. For that, you would usually need to show that this school could meet your child’s needs in a way that others couldn’t (for example, it has a speech and language unit). In some schools, this category would also include parents’ social and medical needs, in which case you would need to supply evidence from a health care professional to confirm that you couldn’t travel to a more distant school.

@BingBongToTheMoon

This might sound stupid, but are you certain that your new house is within the school catchment area? Sometimes the nearest school isn’t actually your catchment one. Even if only 3 houses away.

Most (If not all?) London boroughs don't have set catchment areas.

You need to apply to your new LA. They must come up with a place for your son somewhere.

If the place offered is not at your local school you can appeal but most Reception appeals are infant class size cases, which are almost impossible to win unless there has been a mistake in the admissions process that cost your son a place.

You won't get priority based on the fact your son has no place. However, if the LA isn't able to come up with a place for him within a reasonable distance, he can be admitted to a local school even if that takes the school over the infant class size limit. If they fail to do so, that would potentially be grounds for appeal.

Proximity will give you priority on the waiting list and is likely to put your son at the head of the list, but it won't guarantee a place.

Contrary to what most posters have said, your disability may also give your son priority. Some schools have a "special medical/social needs" category or similar in their admission criteria. Whilst most limit this to the child's needs, some include parental needs. But again, even if this does give priority, that simply moves you up the waiting list. It doesn't get you a place.

When the LA offers your son a place, you should accept it wherever it is. If you don't, they don't have to come up with any alternatives. However, given your son's age, if it isn't a school you want, you have the option of deferring entry to later in the school year (but no later than the start of the summer term next year) and hoping that a waiting list place comes up.

Alternatively, you can ask the LA about delaying entry for a full year. They have the final say on this, but I would expect them to agree. You can then apply this autumn for places to start next September. Given your location, you would almost certainly get a place at the local school.

I don't think you have to wait until moving day; it might be enough to have a signed tenancy agreement, as it will have your name, address and tenancy start date on it.

If I were you I would contact the local authority admissions team and the school, get on the waiting list and see if there are places anywhere else nearby.

Do you get PIP? If not you should claim.

My local authority accepts a signed tenancy agreement as proof of address, and the last day you can make a late application for a September 2021 start is 31 August (Tuesday!) So check the admissions info on the LA website but if it's the same, just get your application in ASAP.

The school website will list their criteria for prioritising applicants, unless private/independent/faith it will adhere to the LA, go through this in detail so that you understand where they say he would fit in the process. Usually, 'looked after' children are first (in LA care, fostered, adopted), then if an EHCP states only said school can meet your child's needs (v unusual), then siblings already in school, then children of staff after x length of service, then distance and other criteria. If it is faith/independent or whatever then there could be other categories before you get to the distance one.

It sounds as though it will indeed be very unlikely he'll start nearby in September but you can talk to the LA about him starting school next year on a completely different basis to what you have written if he is 'summer born' - meaning his birthday is after the school Easter holidays - this will have to be agreed and v much depends upon your LA. It's more usual to apply for a place, get it and then ask for a deferral on that basis. I think the school have a say in whether or not the would accept a deferral too.

There is no legal requirement for him to be in education before his 5th birthday but that is the least thing here, what you all want or need and what is expected holds a lot of weight too.

Know the policy, as pp have said there may be other categories that are relevant to his/your particular needs. They follow their policy to the exact letter so know it inside out. I wonder if a Health Visitor would be a helpful ally regardless of school in joining up the additional needs, assessments if needed and working with a new nursery.

If the primary you want has a pre-school there may be wiggle room there as they don't have to follow that policy to the letter as it is not the same as joining reception and it would get you access to the SENCO who could them support/advice on the actual admission- though that would still be weighed against policy and not a back door.

If he goes on the favoured school waiting list for reception this September and a place becomes available they looks at all the applicants and go through their policy again, it's not a numerical or chronological order.

Good luck with all things, he should continue at nursery/pre-school at least. You won't be the first or only person in this situation and the school office may be able to guide you too.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@Millionnewnames as your child is summer born you can keep him in nursery ( funded in the same way as any 3/4 year old) and request a reception place for 2023. Some areas are easier than others to her a reception rather than year one place for 2023.[/quote]
Think you mean Sept 2022 start not Sept 2023! :)

@Heckythump1 yes sorry 2022.