confused - putting my child down for school waiting list at 20months?!

[milkyman]

my neighbours who work at a local, popular primary school advised me to put my child's name down for the school now? Is this correct, it seems v early as they would start school in 2017.

I don't think you can do that.

Is it a state school? If so then no everyone applies at the same time in January 2017.

Only if it's a private school, maybe if you're not in the UK?

I was allowed to put ds's name down after his second birthday to start free his third. I don't know if different LA's have different rules though.

only if its a private school. this is fairly standard if its a popular one - they have snaller class sizes generally and smaller year groups so fill up pretty quickly with siblings etc.

state schools you can't do anything until the normal admissions period the year before.

Nurseries are different and can have any entry criteria they like but entry to state primary schools in the UK is nothing to do with waiting lists and is decided by the LEA.

Yes, for private school.

I have only just got around to registering ds at dd2's school - he will be 2 later this year - and there are only 3 places left for Sept 2016 start already.

For state schools in the UK you apply in the January of the year your child is due to start, I believe. Although don't know how it works if there is a pre- school/nursery attached.

In English state schools (and I say English only because I'm not certain if it applies to the rest of the UK), you cannot put your child's name down for entry, full stop. As others have said, you apply the preceding January (I think) before they start.

Could she mean pre-school? You have to get your name down early for those here.

They might mean completing an expression of interest form. This is not an application, but just means that the school will send you their prospectus, possibly details of their open day and the application form when your DC reaches the age at which you can apply.

Registering an interest doesn't guarantee you a place or put you higher up the list, as places will be allocated in accordance with the school's admission criteria. In some areas it us the main way admission packs are distributed though so you are asked to register an interest in the year before you are due to apply.

Agree the situation is different for private and pre-schools though.

Is it private? some private schools near me offer places on a first come first served basis and are so popular you need to register ASAP after birth to be in with a chance. it's crazy

Yes - in London especially you virtually need to register for private schools as you leave the maternity ward! (not for state as others have said).

we are in Surrey and I had to register my third DC at 6 months pregnant to ensure he got the last spot in the private school his siblings go to (and we couldn't get any of them into a reasonable state school but that's another story)

God knows what its like in London. You must have to issue a cheque shortly after ejaculation.