why do people put babies' names down at schools?

[nappyaddict]

i thought it didn't make a difference how early you put their name down? it's not a first come first served type of thing is it? don't they wait until about march before they even look at the forms for september?

Names are put down for public schools daahlin

no these are state schools i'm talking about. weird if you ask me.

very wierd. I'm pretty sure it makes no difference if a state school (as in, you aren't more likely to get in by puting your baby's name down) but I could be wrong

you can;t put a child's name down for a state school.. i;e apply for a place, until they are two years old...

i fyou can 'put your babys name down' then it must make a difference

if it didnt the school wouldnt have a system for putting names down

these children must be about 2/2.5. they are ds' class at preschool and i think they are grouped by age.

really -for state school? just shows how naive I am as thought it was all done year before

My ds's name was down when he was 10 days old! Purely because our school is oversubscribed every year for the nursery and reception.

They look at how long you have been on the list as well as siblings and distance.

is that a faith school fimbo?

we put names down at a state school to ensure we received the information pack and application form from the LEA, although as of this year we can do it all on line.

DD1s primary school kept a list of prospective pupils so that they knew who to invite to open days (and also so that parents of neglected subsequent children didn't forget to fill in the application forms )

No, just an infant school.

naily - can you not put their name down before they are 2 for nursery aswell or just reception?

It is just to ensure you get the information pack. Completely pointless as it will be sent to you by the LEA anyway.

My daughter is 3.5 and dosn't have her name down. I've just recieved a letter telling me to do it by the 15th october at latest.
I don't think it makes any difference.

will she be starting in jan then?

Yes, I think so. I'm going to see the school on tuesday, and I'll ask for the form then.

no idea
makes sod all diff in state sector here

everyone round here does it asap for the local state primaries but I must admit I don't know why as we have the forms this week. I think its one of those things - one person mentions doing it and it panics all the others.

same as Fimbo

Names down at birth? Surely that's only for the less academic boarding schools?

Here in Sheffield you can't names down on waiting lists for state schools, until the correct time of application - Autumn before child is due to start.

You can put names down for private schools though. DD's name was down on two school lists from being a year old (we didnt have to pay for this.)

There is no point for state schools, it doesn't get you any advantage.

In Staffordshire it is a similar system. You either contact the school or the LEA to register to be sent an information pack which has to be sent back by a certain date the year they turn 3 for nursery admission and the year they turn 4 for school.

If you don't contactthem you are not sent a pack. I never received one for dd or ds.

I put dd's name down for independent school when she was 2 (they had only just announced they were opening a pre-prep and I put ds's name down the day dd started nursery when he was 6 months.

Aaaargh - how old were yours when you put them down then?