In Year admission Year 1 : when is the best time to apply

[bonjourlondon]

Hello Dear all,
After spending a lot of time on the web searching (and finding lots on Mumsnet, thanks!) I'd like to ask for some advice, or opinions, as I find myself stuck with this unanswered question. We're about to move from France to Bromley, not sure yet where precisely, but in the Borough and somewhere between Shortlands, Bromley, Beckenhem...I know it's a bit large!
My main question is regarding In Year Admission for a place in Y1 for our son. We're planning to move around or during Christmas break, but could also quite easily change that slightly if it was to increase chances to get a school place... I haven't checked with the Council yet, but last April I spoke to the Team Admissions and all schools where full. Do you know if it's still the case? I already know that Valley, Unicorn and Hightfield are full for their 3 Y1 classes. If classes are all full in the Borough, what can be done, can happen? My biggest question is when is the best time to apply to the Council, before, during or after Christmas break? When is there more places (leaving children) made available?
Any thoughts will be very welcome!
Thanks

It's my understanding that you can't apply until you are resident, and have an address, anyway. So choosing when to apply will be driven by that.

Also, the council will offer you a place - somewhere in the borough. That is all they are legally obliged to do, and if you turn it down, they are not obliged to offer another place. You can, however, be placed on waiting lists for various schools, and would be offered places if they came up, and if you were at the top of the waiting list for that particular school.

My suggestion would be to move reasonably close to a largish school that you would be reasonably happy with, as you would have more chance of being offered a place there, as a higher number of children increases the chance of casual places coming up.

Keep talking to the admissions people at Bromley. They won't be able to give any definite answers, but may be able to give you an idea of the times when more casual places are likely to arise, and which schools have historically had more movement.

Oh, and welcome to Bromley!

Thank you very much! I am looking forward to live in Bromley indeed.
Another random question, is there like a producers/farmers market in the Borough?

I spoke to the Council Admissions team, lovely and professionnal people there. They did advice to apply before Xmas break to have time to process the application and get a confirmation from schools which will be closed during the holiday, in a hope that we could have a confirmed school place at the start of the year.
Thought it might help others to know.
Thanks.

Farmers markets in the UK are not like ones in France. They tend to be "artisan" markets, where they charge double supermarket prices.

There is a decent market in Bromley High Street on a Saturday - not sure which other days. But you will miss the wonderful French markets, I'm sorry to say.

Thanks Mulberry. I've lived in London several years and visit regularly so I kinda know what to expect, but i thought there might be a "producers/farmers market" around, as there are a few in london. I've been on the saturday market in Bromley a few months ago, it's fine.