Moving house - messed up September Reception start? Help!

ThatBreezyRobin · 2024-06-07T20:37:43+00:00

Hello, please any advice would be fantastic! My daughter has a place to start reception at our original chosen primary school for September HOWEVER we are now in the process of selling our flat (not exchanged yet so looking at probably August/September for that) so this will not be the right school for her to attend going forward (just to add, we’d been on the market for a year but unfortunately only got a serious buyer in the last month so very aware the timing isn’t great for school start but that was out of my hands due to the market being in such a slump). We have found a house we like in the next town (4 miles away) and have had our offer accepted but only when the sellers secure a property - argh! So what do I do about schools now? I don’t have proof of a sale to start a new application yet but I know you can from July for ‘In-Year applications’….or do I defer her a year as she’s a June baby and start fresh when applications open? We are vacating our flat to then move to my mothers house temporarily whilst the next house is exchanged - this is also in catchment to the same school I’d like her to attend going forward….so could this help me? Would really appreciate any advice on next steps from people who have experienced this as at the moment I’m in a panic! Hope that made some sense! Thank you!

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BendingSpoons · 07/06/2024 21:47

I personally wouldn't defer her just because of a house move. I would ask now to go on the waiting list of the school near where you want to buy. For now, you will be applying from your current address so if the school has a waiting list, you are likely to be towards the bottom. If they happen to have a space, they would give it to you regardless of you living in the next town. When you move, you should then update your address and hopefully move up the waiting list. You can probably update your address either when you exchange or when you sell and move in with your mum, whichever happens first.

If you don't have a space at your preferred school in September, you can choose to either start her in the school near your current flat or wait for a place you prefer. I would probably opt for starting her in the school near your current flat, as you never know how long you will be on a waiting list. Whilst it's not ideal having to change schools, in Reception there's lots of changing of friends, so hopefully she would adjust quickly.

LIZS · 07/06/2024 21:56

Go on waiting list for new school. You may get lucky before September but not forfeit the place you have.

Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 07/06/2024 21:56

BendingSpoons · 07/06/2024 21:47

I personally wouldn't defer her just because of a house move. I would ask now to go on the waiting list of the school near where you want to buy. For now, you will be applying from your current address so if the school has a waiting list, you are likely to be towards the bottom. If they happen to have a space, they would give it to you regardless of you living in the next town. When you move, you should then update your address and hopefully move up the waiting list. You can probably update your address either when you exchange or when you sell and move in with your mum, whichever happens first.

If you don't have a space at your preferred school in September, you can choose to either start her in the school near your current flat or wait for a place you prefer. I would probably opt for starting her in the school near your current flat, as you never know how long you will be on a waiting list. Whilst it's not ideal having to change schools, in Reception there's lots of changing of friends, so hopefully she would adjust quickly.

Thank you for the speedy reply this is very helpful advice! That’s true, at least at Reception levels things like friendship groups aren’t as set in stone if she moves during term…so hopefully I can get on the waitlist and the timing might work out, it’s not a huge school though so I am nervous! A teacher friend of mine suggested I could ask for a January start so maybe that’s another option I could ask about…

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Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 07/06/2024 21:58

LIZS · 07/06/2024 21:56

Go on waiting list for new school. You may get lucky before September but not forfeit the place you have.

Thank you for your reply! Ok I will do this asap - but keep the original place until confirmed - I really didn’t want this timing for her school start I feel very guilty… but hopefully it’ll work out in the end!

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Iggityziggety · 07/06/2024 22:09

Following as in the same position, moving at some point over the next 6 months and DD starting reception in September. Feel very guilty about her getting settled then uprooted.

Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 07/06/2024 22:39

Iggityziggety · 07/06/2024 22:09

Following as in the same position, moving at some point over the next 6 months and DD starting reception in September. Feel very guilty about her getting settled then uprooted.

Me too I feel so guilty - I’m just praying we can complete our sale at least beforehand and get her in the next school….unless they’ve got a massive waitlist of course

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Vickim03 · 07/06/2024 23:05

We ended up moving the week our eldest started school. He had all his settling in in a different school. Then started in the village school we moved too. The same week we moved house so 2 big changes for him.

If you make contact with the new school now, you can have a tour so your little one can see the school. As it's not long before they close for the summer.
It was easy to change our preferences tho best to start now, you may need to provide a letter from the solicitor.

Kids adapt easily.. best to move now then later down the line: and hopefully they can start the same day as all their class.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 07/06/2024 23:11

Sometimes children don't turn up on the first day because they have a place in a private school so worth getting her name down as soon as you move to your MIL. They may not accept the move until you have sold your old property.

Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 07/06/2024 23:14

Vickim03 · 07/06/2024 23:05

We ended up moving the week our eldest started school. He had all his settling in in a different school. Then started in the village school we moved too. The same week we moved house so 2 big changes for him.

If you make contact with the new school now, you can have a tour so your little one can see the school. As it's not long before they close for the summer.
It was easy to change our preferences tho best to start now, you may need to provide a letter from the solicitor.

Kids adapt easily.. best to move now then later down the line: and hopefully they can start the same day as all their class.

Thank you so much for your reply! That must have been such a busy time for you all I’m glad they adapted so well! I’ve just emailed the prospective school so hopefully we can make the right steps before the summer break!

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Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 07/06/2024 23:16

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 07/06/2024 23:11

Sometimes children don't turn up on the first day because they have a place in a private school so worth getting her name down as soon as you move to your MIL. They may not accept the move until you have sold your old property.

Absolutely I will make sure to do that! I’m hoping there’s still some time before September for spaces to be moved and become available

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brievandecam · 08/06/2024 20:42

My boy starts in September and the head teacher said that this school year is really under subscribed and the class sizes are much smaller than usual (Essex). Hopefully it's the same where you are buying!

Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 09/06/2024 06:45

brievandecam · 08/06/2024 20:42

My boy starts in September and the head teacher said that this school year is really under subscribed and the class sizes are much smaller than usual (Essex). Hopefully it's the same where you are buying!

Oh fingers crossed 🤞 that would help things a lot! I’ve sent an email to the prospective school so now just an anxious wait to see how the land lies!

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Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 14/06/2024 07:11

Ok so I’ve got in contact with the new school, they say their wait list is ‘quite long’ 😵‍💫😵‍💫 but I’m to do an ‘in term application’ from July 1st for her? But we’ll still be in our flat by then so not in catchment so that won’t be very helpful in moving up the list - any other advice? Should I send over details of new house from the solicitor when we’re exchanging contracts? Will that help? 🤔 all through the local authority website too I assume this is usual….

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S0livagant · 14/06/2024 07:15

Are there other schools with spaces, closer to your new house?

S0livagant · 14/06/2024 07:17

If that school is over subscribed then other local children may be attending surrounding schools too.

LIZS · 14/06/2024 07:51

Why can you not wait until you exchange and have a local address? There is no benefit to joining a waiting list until you are in a position to take the place up.

Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 14/06/2024 10:29

S0livagant · 14/06/2024 07:15

Are there other schools with spaces, closer to your new house?

Yes there is one, it’s a 30 min walk away rather than a 10 minute walk and only an infant not a primary so not my first choice…should I look to start her there and then move her when space is available 🤔

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Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 14/06/2024 10:30

S0livagant · 14/06/2024 07:17

If that school is over subscribed then other local children may be attending surrounding schools too.

Ah ok - And will remain on the waitlist whilst they are at a different school and see if they can changeover?

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Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 14/06/2024 10:32

LIZS · 14/06/2024 07:51

Why can you not wait until you exchange and have a local address? There is no benefit to joining a waiting list until you are in a position to take the place up.

Because she’s starting reception year and I want to get her organised? We should move out of our current home by September so therefore her current place won’t be local anymore. We will be at my mothers in the meantime between the house sales which is in catchment for the waitlist school - that’s why I want to be on that waitlist for September.

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S0livagant · 14/06/2024 10:36

ThatBreezyRobin · 14/06/2024 10:30

Ah ok - And will remain on the waitlist whilst they are at a different school and see if they can changeover?

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Or may just be happy with the school they are at. I mean if the local school is oversubscribed every year (you'd have to look into that) then you may be better off just putting her in another school and you may find other local children go there too. Some schools get an 'outstanding' so everyone tries to get their children in but there are plenty of spaces at 'good' schools nearby.

Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 14/06/2024 10:39

S0livagant · 14/06/2024 10:36

Or may just be happy with the school they are at. I mean if the local school is oversubscribed every year (you'd have to look into that) then you may be better off just putting her in another school and you may find other local children go there too. Some schools get an 'outstanding' so everyone tries to get their children in but there are plenty of spaces at 'good' schools nearby.

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Oh absolutely I agree with you, both schools are ‘good’ but just one is so much further to walk than the other and I have two girls so the primary would be a lot easier to get them to together in the future - am ringing the other school with spaces now

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DoublePeonies · 14/06/2024 11:26

Take a deep breath.
Until you've exchanged, you have no idea how long this process is going to take.
Work on the assumptions she will be starting at the originally offered school.
Once exchange has happened, go on the wait list. If you don't get in straight away, it's only 4 miles away.

Just imagine this scenario: You go on the wait list 1 July, get offered a place at a new school, the the chain collapses, and the next house you like is 5 miles in the opposite direction. Until you know you are moving, leave the schools alone.

Original poster

ThatBreezyRobin · 14/06/2024 19:32

DoublePeonies · 14/06/2024 11:26

Take a deep breath.
Until you've exchanged, you have no idea how long this process is going to take.
Work on the assumptions she will be starting at the originally offered school.
Once exchange has happened, go on the wait list. If you don't get in straight away, it's only 4 miles away.

Just imagine this scenario: You go on the wait list 1 July, get offered a place at a new school, the the chain collapses, and the next house you like is 5 miles in the opposite direction. Until you know you are moving, leave the schools alone.

Good point! I spoke to the local education authority today and they’ve said to keep original place and get in touch with them before the 19th of August if we move or if it’s after that then it’ll be an in-term application and she might start a few weeks late…but hopefully it’ll work out!

My main point is we are vacating our flat upon sale (we have a first time buyer so praying they don’t muck us around) and moving in with my mum who ‘s house in the catchment for the new prospective schools - so even if the purchase chain collapses we will still be in the catchment we need…this is why I am still getting concerned - hopefully we can exchange soon and get it more solid.

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