Confused about Reception class / Year 1

[TwoSpoonsofSugar]

Hi, confused and hoping someone can explain this to me.

We're not applying for DS to attend pre-school nurseries in Wimbledon as he is already at a private nursery and we're happy to keep him there for the moment.

Question is: if we don't apply for a place in Reception class, does that mean we shoot ourselves in the foot for getting a place in the school when DS turns 5? As those in Reception will move up to Year 1. I know that at least one school has said that is the case. Confused as the school websites say the the application process for pre-school nursery admission is separate to that of school admission, but no mention of Reception admission.

Could someone please come along and explain this to me? Thank you!

It might be worth getting the question answered by the Admissions Team at Merton Council, TwoSpoonsofSugar: [email protected]. Then you will assured of getting the correct information.

It would be helpful to other parents (in a similar predicament), if you could post the Admission Team's response too.

Good luck!

Hi

My understanding of the system is that you will need to apply for a Reception Class place for your DS for the academic year that he turns 5. It doesn't matter whether his birthday falls on 1st September or 31st August of the next year, you will still need to fall in with the Council's admissions timetable (although it may be possible for you to delay his start date once you have secured a school place. That used to be the case with some schools having staggered entry).

With the current pressure on primary school places, it's entirely possible that you will not be allocated a place at any of your preferred choice schools if you do not apply until he's 'coming up' five (which may well be far into the academic school year!) rather than just four.

Are you suggesting that your DS isn't five until the summer hols and therefore could legally miss out out on the Reception (when he is still only four) Class entirely? Not sure if it works like that?

Think you would be wisest to do as LocalEditorMerton suggests and contact the Council Admissions Team for clarification. For an issue as important as this you really don't need to be given misinformation (even if it's well-intended)!

Thanks for the responses above. I wasn't able to find a contact number for the Admissions team, only an online submission form, hence why I came here to see if I could get an answer quicker.

Willem you are right about when DS would start. My confusion arose because I thought Reception was 3-4, and actually it is 4-5. Doh. Pre-school nursery is 3-4 and the admissions process is separate so a nursery place does not necessarily guarantee a place in Reception. That makes sense to me.

Thanks for the help. Must confess that I find the whole school thing (understanding the system and getting a place) is stressful as well as confusing! I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling that way :-)

PS: On the off-chance, does anyone know what the application deadline is for a nursery place starting Sep 2015 for St Mary's? I called and was given different answers as the office staff themselves were not clear. I was told a vague end of summer 2014, which seems very early to apply?

Hi TwoSpoonsofSugar

It's a great pity you didn't get greater clarity from the staff at St Mary's RC Primary School before the end of term. It might be worth putting in an email request to the school asking for your DS to be registered to receive a Nursery Appplication Pack (for September 2015 entry) and go from there. Staff are in during the summer hols (particularly towards the start of the new academic year), as the waiting lists tend to show movement and they have related admin. to attend to, so you may get some answer before the beginning of the new school year.

I certainly would think that if the deadline for submission of Nursery applications for Academic Yr 2015-16 was imminent, the staff would be a lot less vague.

Looking at Merton's School Admissions of the website, it looks as if the deadline for submission of applications for Nursery places for non-Church schools is January 2015 - I can't possibly imagine it would be wildly different for the faith schools.

Sorry you didn't get a better response from the office - they're usually very good!
I'm pretty sure application deadlines are Jan 2015 for the September start. They have been for the last few years and I haven't heard that anything is changing. There's also a chance of getting a place closer to September if you miss the deadline.
Good luck

A word of caution - St Mary's is fairly oversubscribed, so unless you are Catholic and have proof of weekly church attendance for the last three years, you may not get offered a place in Reception. Please make sure you have a plan B in place.