Your experience of moving home with Year 1 schoolchild. New school/will she still get in a 'full' school?

[Challen]

I'm moving to a nearby town and was surprised to learn the nearest infant schools within a radius of our new address are full, according to the school secretary that I spoke to over the phone at each one. The nearest is one street away, the next nearest a good 25 minute walk away.

I have already applied through the usual schools admission (it's called 'In-Year Admission') as my daughter has just moved up to Year 1.

I'm just wondering if anyone in identical circumstances has found that they can still get their child into their preferred infant school, despite the staff saying it's full, as there is a legal compliance for 5 year old's to be in education, so that they might make an exception for the exceptional families that are moving home mid-term and transferring schools?

Yes, up to a point.

You need to apply to the LA for a school place, and they have to offer you something. This may or may not be a school of your choice, and it might not be that near your home (but if it is over 2 miles, they must provide transport). How far away is too far depends on your local geography.

If there are no year 1 places whatsoever in your town and no village school within reasonable reach then the LA must activate the Fair Access Protocol for you. This means that the LA will compel a school to admit your DC as an extra pupil. The decision on which school this will be is up to the LA and will be made according to which school can best cope with the additional pupil.

If you turn down a place, then the LA is not obliged to find you another, and you will have to take your chances via the waiting list.

Thankyou edith, that's very useful information :)