Waiting list for reception

[Mummyk13]

my daughter has attended my nursery since she was 3 months old attending all through Covid/lockdown and has made the most amazing bonds with her peers over the passed 3 and half years
I have worked at the nursery for 18 years working hours between 7-5:30 or 7:30-6
there is a primary school 0-4 miles on the door step of the nursery we live 1.8 miles 6 minute drive away
so we made 4 choice’sout of 6 for school application in January none of the schools have wrap around care like the school next to my work so we couldn’t make any other work

we fond out on Tuesday she did not get her 1st choice of school problem now all her friends are going to her 1st choice and she is the only one who hasn’t got her first choice

problem two one of the mums at the nursery was collecting her from me at the nursery to drop her and same collecting after and dropping her to me after school obviously now she can’t as she won’t be going to same school as her friend

I emailed our first option school on Wednesday morning explaining all this and how upset my daughter is and what I could do
the school actually called me they where so nice she said she had to call me as her heart was breaking reading the email and she wanted to put my mind at rest that this is just the first list and it changes a lot in first week she said there are only 15 children on the waiting list and my daughter isn’t at the bottom of it she said she dose not want to give me faulse hope but she said she thinks I’ll def get a place 🤞
she can’t tell me where I am
on the list untill May 1st she said she would call
me back once I can be told

question is what are the chances we will get a call for a space we have appealed but read that you never win reception appeals
but if there was no hope would the school had gone out there way the day after offer day to call me

Why does the system need to change? It’s done by set criteria, with distance being one of the criteria, which is fair.

@Overthebow So because children can’t afford to live in higher earning areas they shouldn’t be entitled to outstanding education like everyone else?
They should have to attended inadequate schools because of where they live?

@Mummyk13 how do you think the system should work?

like Normally waiting lists first come first served

So the children of highly engaged, informed parents are more deserving of the outstanding school places than those whose parents are too busy or who are not as clued up to how the system works?

You're absolutely right that every child should be entitled to receive a high quality education, regardless of where they live or who their parents are. We should all be furious with the government for not delivering this. In the absence of perfect equality, distance is a pretty good way of allocating this resource as it helps ensure kids don't have to travel too far to get to school, and they'll largely be at school with other kids from their neighbourhood.

This definitely leads to the problem of higher house prices around better schools, but as far as I can see, it's the least bad solution to the current bad situation.

So you think you should be able to apply to any school anywhere and just get in if you applied first?

All that nonsense aside I do hope despite your fixation on getting her into this school that you're actually bigging up the school she has been allocated and helping her get excited about where she will be going instead of letting her think this school will be a temporary stop gap until she's offered a place at the school you prefer.

Different people different views

I was asked a question I gave my answer
Every child should be able to access outstanding education

i am sorry but because your to busy or not clued up is a worst reason to not apply

all family’s are entitled to 15/30 hours free child care which I am same well sure every one’s accessing and that’s where they will be clearly informed how when to apply

if not health visitors doctor social workers list is endless of how a parent is informed so because there to busy is a poor reason and there clearly not bothered where there child will attend

travel is ridiculous reasoning children travel all day long to child care family ect

@ZipZapZoom you would only apply to a school that works around you and your child your talking nonsense

I’m not that I have to justify how I parent my child

we are of course been talking positively about the school that has been offered

it’s not my preferred school what so ever again not that I have to explain

wow being bashed for wanting my child to be happy and get a good education what a horrible peroson I must be

I wonder if any of you have actual been in the situation we are facing because your comments seem to be coming from some one in a very privileged situation

I think most of us can relate - we're all here trying to figure out how to do the best for our children! I think we're also just recognising that our kids are not objectively more important than anyone else's.

We didn't get into our first choice of school, which is right next to the station so would have worked perfectly for us to drop her off and go to work. The school she's going to attend come September is in the opposite direction and will require a car to get to. It's frustrating, but we've focused on the positives (this school has much better outdoor space, for example) and we'll make it work.

@belladonna22 i am glad it’s all worked out for the best for you it’s nice to read

no no child is more important than the next and no one should be treated as such due to there post code as much as they shouldn’t in what shoes clothing ect they wear

Surely postcode is one of the most sensible admissions criteria? From a social point of view isn't it best that children attending a school all live relatively close to eachother in the catchment area so that they can mix more easily outside school and have a greater sense of community? I'm glad my ds is going to the local school about 100m from my house so that his future friends will mostly be within walking distance!

@ImFckingMattDamon then the next argument would be that some children attend nursery all over that are not near there homes and have made good friendship groups so why can they not attend schools out of there catchment area to continue those friendships.

also not everyone wants children mixing with children in the area for different reasons so why should they be force to

its parents preference hence why waiting list should be first come first served like how pre schools/nursery do it

Everyone will have a different view and opinion on what they feel is right

no one is right or wrong

all I have said is it needs looking at

also distance is a criteria but when your child turns 8 they say they can travel 75 minutes each way alone to school and home now that was in place 30 years ago in this day and age would you feel comfortable with your 8 year old travel alone for that long and then it gos against catchment because if that’s the case why dose it matter if you live in the post code or not

@LittleBooThang so now just because there 4 they can’t clearly understand how they feel?

sorry but do you actually know since Covid the cad team actually have social and emotional wellbeing for children of this age
that actually it has a massive in packed on only 4 year olds

that her nursery are actually concerned about the impact it’s having on only a 4 year old

sorry again this is my post my opinion didn’t actually asked to be told she just 4 asked what peoples experience are with waiting lists

again wow such a bad parent actually listening to my child

@LittleBooThang so now your calling me a bad parent lol

i think you need to find somthing better to do than put people down

we are preparing her and working with her nursery we are amazing parents thank you hence why we listen to our child and do not disregard her feelings

I think after your comment your best not replying it’s actually disgusting that you think you can judge someones parenting you have never meet just because they have different opinions
guess what I am entitled to have one but clearly by what you just wrote your one of them I am right your wrong people

thanks to everyone else who have actually put there opinion in a nice respectful way

@LittleBooThang I am full aware of my behaviour I haven’t asked your opinion on my parenting asked about waiting lists

I know how to parent thank you very much haven’t asked to be shown how

I think you need to choose your words more carefully you have no right putting that on anyone’s post luckily I am confident with my parenting that I could care but if you had put that to the wrong person that could of went a different way

For what it's worth, my son started reception in Sep, the only one from his nursery starting.

Yes I was worried, but he's made some amazing friends and settled so quickly.

There is nothing to say your daughter would stay friends with her nursery friends in primary. They change on the weekly.

@LittleBooThang again I haven’t done such a thing we have approproched it positively I am not stupid
who do you think you are telling me what I have and have not done

she is sad and aloud to be about it I am sorry my children are not robots and we listen to them
I don’t dictate there feelings

I think we will leave this here as actually I don’t think continuing will get either of us any where

your a you know it all person and I just don’t care for people like that have a great day and god I hope your kids never dear to think differently to you

@Sunshineclouds11 thank you for that it’s nice to read that it all worked out it’s an awful feeling when your in the situation isn’t it

It's hard but we knew when applying he wouldn't be going to the same school as others, there's quite afew primary's around us, so it wasn't a shock like you've had.

All you can do is try to make it exciting for her, take her shopping for a new school bag, shoes etc , don't fixate on making new friends as they do all take while to settle and get to know each other.
She will honestly love it.

Honestly OP, she'll be fine. My DD went to school knowing loads of kids from nursery and preschool, her friends now don't come from that group at all. The teachers are expert at getting them all settled.

Where I grew up the waiting lists were first come first served and it doesn't work, they've changed to a system more like the UK's now. First come first served means people putting names down in pregnancy for multiple schools, and for some secondaries near me it meant parents camping outside the school for days before the waiting list would open. It also means that you're tied to the area your DC is born in, because if you move you'll be too far down the waiting list to get in.

A set application date with criteria based on things like siblings and distance works well.

Which DC do you think shouldn't have gotten a place in that school so that your DC would?