cant get dd1 inot school that we want

[misdee]

theres a lovely school 5mins walk away from here. as we moved during the holidays from the next town and dd1 is emant to be starting school in jan the school is full. We have another 2 schools to try and see if they have a place, otherwise its gonna be a 20-30 drive each morning and evening to get dd1 into her original school placement.

Have they got a waiting list Misdee ??? Some kids could leave by January.

misdee I would tell them your husband is disabled (chronically ill) and you CANT drive her to school. It is so unreasonable that they wont let her go to the closest school given your situation

we've put her on the waiting list. i have also just phoned another school (not great but ok) which is 10mins walk away and we're going to look round there next week. Theres another one 20mins walk away but cant find the number for it.

Did they give you any indication of how long the list is ????

its very long. its one of the best primary schools in the area so gets booked quickly. I dont want dd1 to settle into one school then move her for the sake of 5mins if a place comes available.

But the school we're going to look at have SEN class which if we need it would be a bonus (loads of my family have dyslexia), but i reaslly want her to go to the other one.

Oh well i'll keep my fingers crossed for you anyway.

Have to say i think it's awful when people can't get their kids into the school of choice.
I don't know what i'd have done if dd1 hadn't got into hers as the next nearest is dreadful.

Good Luck

found the scores for the one thats 20mins away, and it is a lot better for everything, so am also waiting for them to call me back. none of them are as good as her 1st choice school was tho.

I don't know if it is the same in every area, but I don't think waiting lists are on a 'first come first served' basis, I think they still have to give it to the children who are nearest. So if you are close, and have special circumstances, you could get a place by Jan.

how big are catchment areas?

Could you hold off an extra term senidn dd to school to give it longer for a place at the right school to come up?

It is true that the waiting list will be prioritised not first come first served.

dd1 is currently still in nursery for another term in the next town as i didnt want to unsettle her for one term b4 moving schools anyway.

We have decided to look at most of the schools in the town now, even those outside of walking distance, basically anywhere that has space we will look at as a possibility. Guess that means i should press on with my driving lessons as i cant be expecting dh to do the school run every day.

You're right about waiting lists - your position on them is goverend by the same criteria used for allocating the places under usual circumstances.

i am hoping she gets a place by jan, but i am still not gonna take chances so will look for an alternative school just in case a space doesnt become available.