Late primary school application

[Saynotopineappleonpizza2021]

We finally exchanged today and complete in 2 weeks so our 4yr olds school application will be late. Nothing we can do about it so can only see what happens.

I'm going to send my options in but if we don't get any of them can we go on waiting lists for all of them? How does it work? Do we contact the schools directly to go on wait lists?

I'm expecting we won't get the top 2 choices but 3rd we may or may not so making a plan now

Have you not actually submitted any application yet? Sounds barmy to me!

I have in our old LEA as per suggestions by them and new LEA, they told me to apply there then when move happens reapply in new LEA - which is what I am about to do

You will go on the waiting lists for all the schools you apply for. And they are done in order of eligibility, so after the initial round you won't be penalised for being late.

Perfect so we will automatically go on to wait lists?

It's been so stressful we were supposed to move in October so none of this would happen but it has - I hate being late let alone for school applications

You should automatically go on the waiting lists for any of your lower preferences than the school offered. So if you are lucky enough to be offered your first preference, you won't be on any waiting lists. If you are offered a school that you don't name as a preference, you should be on the waiting list for all of your preferred schools. It is, however, worth checking with the council once you get a letter offering a place as this goes wrong sometimes.

If your original application to your old LA named the schools you want where you are moving, you don't have to apply again at this stage. You can simply notify your current LA of your new address and ask them to use it for correspondence but stick to your existing address for allocations purposes. You may strike it lucky and get a place at one of your preferred schools. If you don't, you can apply through your new LA for the schools you want.

However, if your original application was for schools in your old LA, you should get an application to your new LA as soon as you can.

In our LA you have to ask to go on waiting lists. It's very easy, and you get told how to do it in your offer letter, but it's not automatic.

Is there no LA admissions guide that talks you through the process? Ours publishes a very comprehensive guide on their website, with chapter and verse on the whole process, including house moves and late applications. Maybe we're lucky and this is unusual?

Thank you both, it seems all LAs do things differently. The old LA has said as soon as we move we have to reapply, new LA didn't mind what we did but our second choice was the new LA one.

I will re look through the websites for information, thank you

We are realistic its highly unlikely to get a space in a preferred school on first round

Thank you again

Sorry can I add another question....can we go on only our named schools wait list or others too?

That depends on the LA. Many limit the number of waiting lists you can go on. They have to allow you to go on the waiting lists for all your preferences (assuming you don't get any of them). If you want to go on the waiting list for another school, you may have to come off the waiting list for one of your preferences.

By the way, apologies for a typo in my earlier post. You should, of course, go on the waiting lists for preferences higher than the one offered, not lower!

In our LA you can join the waiting list for any of your original preferences (including those you named as lower preferences than the school you were offered). If you move into the area halfway through the process, you can submit a late application (iirc the cut off is late April or early May). The LA then run a second round of offers in early June. After that, the schools take back control of the process, and you can apply direct to as many schools as you like. If you move after the late application date but before the June reallocation date, you need to wait until after reallocation to apply.

Def contact the schools you’re more interested in directly to make sure you’re on their lists.

I do know lots of people who were initially on waiting lists but got in to their chosen school before term started in September. People do go private, move away at the last moment etc

@prh47bridge I did think that's what you meant - thank you

He is a July baby, could we in theory keep him out of school until summer term if we don't get one nearby? And leave him on wait lists?

I guess time will tell what happens - I was hoping we could just go on them all if we end up with one further afield, we are lucky that schools within a 30min drive are mainly brilliant but I don't fancy that drive with traffic added in twice a day

I'm such an organised person this being late malarkey is not a comfortable state

@pralinee thank you - we will make it before late applications close thankfully

He is a July baby, could we in theory keep him out of school until summer term if we don't get one nearby? And leave him on wait lists?

Yes, you can. If you go down that path, I would recommend accepting the offer you get from your new LA and informing them that you are deferring entry until the summer term. That way you have a place for him even if the waiting lists fail to produce anything.

Your son doesn't have to be in school until next September. LAs are now being encouraged to be more flexible about delayed starts for summer-born children. You may therefore be able to apply for a place for your son to start in Reception next year. Check with your new LA. Some will agree to any request, some will only agree if there is evidence of developmental delay.

@prh47bridge I think he's more than ready for this year but it's good to know it's an option - I'll definitely look into it