adopted children / primary schools advice...

[m0llyr0se]

Hi there

Does anyone have any experience they are happy to share about getting adopted children into primary schools in Cambridge?

I have been told that we should be able to pick and choose where we wanted to go as the children come from the care system - although it does depend on the school having spaces. We hope to have a little one mid way through the school year and so we hope that there might be some spaces to choose from!

Also, can anyone advise about the 'character' of the different primary schools in Cambridge - which ones are best for bright young things and which are better for nurturing / support etc?

Thanks in advance - what a minefield this is!

personally I would visit your nearest schools -in my view nearest is best if possible - for friendships and also ease and time for commuting - and judge yourself -
also although I know looked after children do get priority I don't how it works if the school is full already.

If your local catchment school (I'm assuming primary) has places, like anyone else you will get a place. If your child has a statement of special needs, you are in a strong position if you want your child to attend your catchment school, even if it is oversubscribed. If your child has been part of the care system, you may well find that the school and the admissions office will be as sympathetic as they can. Just keep in mind that in Key Stage 1 there is a numbers cap on 30 per class and it is difficult for schools to admit beyond this.

Cambridge is surrounded by lots of villages which tend to have small, village schools. Quite often parents like them for their smaller numbers, the fact it can be easier for staff to create a family-feel within a nuturing ethos. City schools are (mostly but not all) much bigger but that isn't necessarily a bad thing! Any decent school will take the time to talk to you and show you around. Do go and talk to the head, or whoever is assigned to you. Don't just go by OFSTED reports and chatroom opinion!

Congratulations Mollyrose.
As others have said, check out your local catchment school first and take things from there.
Good luck.

Hello Molly rose,
You didn't mention which catchment area you are in so difficult to advise specifically. I do work in education, and have worked with LAC. I do know that children who have been looked after get good priority, as well as children with SEN. Fortunately there isn't a specific city school that has a high amount of looked after children per se (only because the city doesn't have a massively high number of LAC (only beacuse there arentvmany foster carers due to high propery prices!) I think it depends on the child that you are adopting. Some high achieving city schools actually may not have much experience of the complex issues that LAC may come with whereas other schools that you may have discounted may be better equipped to deal with these children. Some of the village schools are also quite good. I would recommend that you visit a few and find out what sort of support they offer. Cambridgeshire has an ESLAC service ( educational support for looked after children) that your social worker may be able to put you in touch with to advise further. Good luck and I hope it all goes well xx

Thanks everyone - really useful advice. Our local catchment area school is Abbey meadows and we worry that it is so huge and noisy / chaotic that LO might struggle... We are looking at the village schools as well now to see whether they might be smaller and more nurturing. Hopefully we will be able to get some Heads to meet with us before placement - you can't actually make the application until the child has moved in - and even then they are a ward of the state until the adoption order goes through a couple of months later - so I imagine ESLAC might be quite helpful!

I agree with Tid its the most important things that the school is set up to support you. some village schools may be good but others might stuggle if there are addition needs - I don't know Abbey but how big is it actually - if its 2 form entry lots of schools in the village are the same

Hi Mollyrose, being on an ipad I can't seem to send you a PM (maybe it's cos it's a local thread) anyway, we are currently being assessed to adopt and should go to panel in March so it would be LOVELY to keep in touch somehow:-)