Can nursery attendance count for sibling priority in a school transfer?

[Kardelen]

Hi everyone, I’m really confused about sibling priority and hoping someone has experience with this.

my son is on the waiting list for let’s say school A, which is our local one. He currently goes to school B, which is rated better by ofsted but is more further away and I struggle to drop/pick him up days that I am at work. ( currently had a family member who helps in the mornings but she won’t be able to help anymore).

My daughter got offered a full time place in school A’s nursery. I explained that my son attends school B, and I will be struggling as both need to be dropped and picked up at the same time. the school told me they will apply for sibling priority for my son, so he can join my daughters school ( he’s in reception).

however when I called the council ( school admissions) they said nursery children are exempt as they are not in compulsory education, so they will refuse my sons sibling priority application. When I called the school back they informed me that they dont need to tell the council that my daughter is in nursery, so the sibling priority will be approved.

I don’t really understand how this works! Is there a chance of this? My neighbour is happy to drop my daughter off to nursery while I drop my son days I’m not working ( and will continue to struggle days I am working).

also, what’s best? Sending them to a least better school due to convenience or struggling but somehow finding a way to/!; sending to a better rated school? I don’t know, I can’t think clearly as I am so confused and stressed. Appreciate any answers

What does the actual published admissions policy say?

And is there actually a space available? If there is, and there is no one else requesting it, whether or not your DS officially has a sibling in the school under the wording of the policy (and I would be very surprised indeed if the official policy does count siblings in the nursery provision as 'siblings' under that criterion), as the only applicant, you must be given the place. If there is no place currently, then they cannot just admit your DS.

If you submit a formal application, when and if a place becomes available, the previous applies if you are the only applicant, but if there are others, you must all be ranked according to the oversubscription criteria and the child at the top of the list offered the place. This may or may not be your DS, but it does sound as if your informant at the school is offering to fabricate your DS's ranking, if he would not otherwise be the one offered.

Do you know where I would be able to find the policy?
yeah ofc I know there needs to be a space, before he can be admitted. That’s why I’m wondering if it’s worth the stress

The school admission criteria will be freely available on the schools website.

I would be incredibly surprised if a child attending nursery counted as a sibling link because nursery is not compulsory and it would also be seen as unfair towards those who used alternative provisions, such as parents who needed a full day of childcare.

That's bizarre advice from the school. The LA will ask for details of the sibling, otherwise people would just make up a sibling to get to top of the list. A place in nursery is unlikely to give you sibling priority. Where is your DS on the waiting list?

No schools where I live have a nursery policy. They all said this clearly in the open evenings.