St Margarets/Isleworth primaries - In year admissions

[ClaudieM]

Hello Mumsnetters, hoping someone will be able to give me some guidance on Isleworth primaries. We are on the borders of Hounslow and Richmond boroughs and all three of our Richmond choices are oversubscribed - St Stephens, Orleans and Deer Park. My DS would be an in year admissions for Yr 4. He's creative so we're looking for a school that offers lots of art and music rather than focusing purely on Maths and English but we're also looking for somewhere with a decent SEN provision - DS currently having SALT. Does anyone have any useful info on Isleworth Town or Worple? Have found very little info online about either and wondering if anyone can shed some light or has personal experience? Any info gratefully received!

You might want to double check with Deer Park. They had some messaging on their Facebook page in the past week or so that they had some additional space but I'm not sure for which years. Great school incidentally.

Thank you. Richmond Admissions are quite evasive and don't answer the phone so completely reliant on email correspondence. They told me to keep checking every 2-3 months! But assured me they'd let me know as soon as spaces become available. Good to know re Deer Park. There was a space 2 weeks ago but we weren't in borough thenThe current site looks very small. Any issues re sport and PE, outside playtime?

The temporary location is not ideal for facilities but adequate and the kids still get plenty of time to run around in the playground and many of the classes head over to Deer Park to go on adventure hikes. The new location is due to open early next year.

Have you looked at Gems TPA? A wonderful little school who is kind and welcoming to all -- with or without SEND.

If you email [email protected] they can tell you who has vacancies and how long the waiting lists are. Then I'd email the SENCOs and see who gives you a friendly welcoming response.

Orleans is also lovely. Might be worth putting in a call to their SENCO. Unless you have an EHCP, I'm afraid you will be considered according to normal admissions criteria which is based on distance.

Im puzzled that you weren't offered a place due to "out of borough". I believe that is illegal. But distance criteria (ignoring borough boundary lines) is legal.

Thank you for your responses. We moved from Ealing to Hounslow borough so when I refer to being out of borough we were much further away than the child who received the place at Deer Park at the time. Have just accepted an offer from Isleworth Town. They certainly seem very caring and friendly and appear to offer lots of music and art so fingers crossed!!