What happens if you do not have the correct supporting documents for primary school admission

[strawberrycornetto]

Ok, I am rubbish at admin. Our application form has to be in on Friday so I was just getting everything together and I have discovered I need my child benefit letter for 2008. I do not have it, I am pretty sure I didnt keep it because I didn't think I would need it . I have contacted the benefits agency for a copy but it probably won't come in time.

What will happen? I have everything else and we have lived in the Borough for 3 years, paying council tax etc. Will my application be discounted? I know its my own stupid fault (ok and DH's who could also have done something about it earlier) but I am so worried and I don't know what to do.

Have you received one recently with the new figures ?

I haven't received anything since last April I don't think. I am sure I threw it away. We have to submit the paperwork with the application. I need to send a copy of: 1. full birth certificate; 2. latest council tax statement; 3. current (what does that mean?) gas or electricity bill; and 4. the child benefit letter for 2008. It doesn't say what to do if you don't have them.

Surely I can't be the only person who has lost documents? Is everyone just more organised?? I am amazed I have three of them quite frankly!!

why do they need it? Especially gas or electricty bill. For that tell them you're off grid

I suppose it links you and the address to the child.

I would say that

1. Proves the child's age
2. Proves you pay council tax on an address in the right area
3. Proves the house is inhabited & the bills are in your name (ie, not a grandparents' house)

4.Proves you receive the benefit for the child & therefore is as close as you can get to proving the child lives at that address

These are all items that parents have been known to lie about to get a place at a school

Does it say you have to have all four? Usually it is only birth certificate and one out of those other 3. Check the small print. By recent gas or electicity bill they mean a bill from the most recent quarter. The bill I submitted was four months old and I was told to bring a more recent one!

If you really do need all four can you ask the benefits agency to fax a copy direct to the school?

How annoying. We do need all 4 and the benefits agency will not do anything other than send a copy to me by post! I know people lie but its really annoying - we have not lied at all and we are registered for everything - nursery place from the counsel, doctors, hearing at local children's centre... It seems quite arbitary to need that one document and nothing else.

I also think my gas and electricity bills are from the wrong quarter and our water is annual and we are due one this month. This kind of thing drives me nuts.

Do you have the option to submit an application on-line? Not saying that you ought to, but just wondering what happens if that is available. I did my Daughter's application online and obvioulsy did not need to include supporting docs at that time. Im just suggestin this in case it will buy you more time, if possible. HTH.

Agree it is nuts. We live on border of two different council areas. Applied for schools in the one, needed birth certificate, utility bills etc. Applied in the other, needed nothing at all, just filled in a form! Ridiculous IMO!!

Can you phone council tomorrow and ask if you can submit your application minus the one thing (if it doesnt come)to be added later. I am sure you will not be the first or the last to ask this.

I would enclose everything you have, plus an older child benefit letter if you have it, plus a piece of paper saying you've asked the benefits people to send you a copy of the most recent letter because you can't find it, and you'll send it to them as soon as it arrives. I'm sure they get people all the time who don't have the paperwork on the right day, but it's important to get your application in by the right day so you are into the system.

Thanks all. I've been through all this year's paperwork and can't find it so I am going to look for last year's as AMIS suggests. I am also going to see what you do online, I thought you might need to scan but it may be that it will buy me the extra time.

Lone stranger, you are a star. I have checked and you can apply online up to the closing date and then send your paperwork by post together with a copy of the email confirming receipt. I will check with them tomorrow but it sounds like that will buy the time I need. Phew

Hey SC. Glad to have been of help. I had to send my Ds'c application this time last year and it was such a tense time and really feel for you. Hope all goes well and that you get the school of choice.

I think it's a legal requirement to be able to apply online. You should receive an up to date child benefit letter very soon if you haven't already with the changes to the new amount.

Of course, sending a gas bill and the council tax statement also means they can work out what council tax band you are in and how big your bills are and thefore whether you have a nice big house or not? Covert selection anybody? Maybe I am a bit too cynical! I only had to provide birth certificate and one bill.