Moving House before Reception!!!???

[ArkArk]

Hi All,

Really hoping for some advice/thoughts/experience.
We are currently in process of moving house -which is taking ages, stopped and started several times. DS is due to start local catchment school in Sept and has been given place. We have been at our address for 5 years, so all above board. I understood from initial allocation of places that if we had moved out of catchment earlier, the LEA could have taken the place away from him to give to a child waiting for a place in catchment.
However, now we are at the end of term/year and DS has done his 'taster' sessions, got the uniform, and his new teacher has sat in on SEN meeting my question is - if we move in August, before he starts officially in Sept, can they still take his place away from him when we turn up on 1st Sept? I have ploughed through LEA website but cannot find any clear information on this situation. We are not moving to manipulate school places in anyway, we are keen for DS to stay at the local school once we've moved. I feel so anxious about what could happen, I'm keen to discuss the situation with the Head and be upfront about our situation because we are not trying to be manipulative and I'm at the point where I want to know what we're facing if we do end up moving before school starts.
Any advice greatly appreciated, ta:-)

I think you are ok because he has given the place and it's based on the address you are at when applying.

We recently looked into moving ( my son had just started reception). We'd only have been moving 5 miles away and I wanted him to go to the local school for an easier life for me!
But I spoke to the LEA and they said he'd have to stay at the school he was assigned to because there were places at the new one. We would have to go through an appeals process to change.

Though if he'd been in Year 1 - the LEA wouldn't have been involved and we'd have had to request the change via the school....

Also a girl in my kid's class were living in rented accommodation having moved back from the States and qualified for the catchment area. Then bought a house out of catchment and not moved schools.

Forgot to say phone the LEA on Monday. They were helpful when I phoned.

It may vary from LEA to LEA but I would expect it to be fine because the appeals process will have finished by the end of this month.

For most (if not all? - I'm sure I remember someone posting about one that was different...?) admissions authorities once the offer is made then it doesn't matter if you move house between offer day & starting. (Admission authority is LA unless a VA faith school, when it is the school themselves).

There is the possibility that the might check out if the circumstancse are "legit", especially if it is an area where it is more common for people to use false addresses to try & get school places, but you have no worries on this score as you are "legit"

The Admissions Code is clear that there are very few circumstances in which an offer can be withdrawn once it has been made. Once the child has actually started at the school the place can only be withdrawn if it has been obtained fraudulently.

As BestyBoop says, there is at least one LA which requires parents to continue to live at the same address for some time after the offer has been made. I am dubious as to whether that complies with the Admissions Code.

You mention an SEN meeting. If your child has a statement which names this school there is absolutely no question. They cannot take the place away.

If he does not have a statement you should contact the LA. However, if they say you will lose the place I would encourage you to appeal against that decision and, if necessary, refer the case to the LGO.