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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

No school place offered to ds

48 replies

kmlibra · 09/09/2010 12:18

Hi,
We have moved to new place nearly one month back.
Before moving here,I was continuosly asking LA of new address to send me the application form for primary admissions at my address and they said "you can only fill it once you move here".I explained to them that we will be moving there after 1 month (14th Aug') and I dont want to take any risk for his admission as schools are going to open on 3rd sept.I was told it will be quicker when you move here .

Still after struggling for so many days on phone, I came myself to LA of new address,and fill the form on 19th July.I was expecting my ds will definitely get the school place before school starts.
But as of today he is not been offered any school out of 64 schools under LA and when I phoned LA they say that he is on waiting list and they dont have any place in any school.
I am told by them just to wait,for how long donno.
Please advise what should I do,as I cant see him sitting at home.
Already he is upset bcoz of moving home n now no school place.

OP posts:

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sereka · 09/09/2010 12:39

I am a afraid AFAIK there is not much you can do about this but to wait? how old is your DS? as if he is not yet five then it will not be compulsory for him to be in education.

Also dont despair places do come up right up until september when kids who might have left the area or gone to private schoool will not have turn up or even inform the LEA.

I cant imagine how you mucty be feeling now. My DD is strting school on monday and she is so excited. try to do activities at home in the mean time... just fun learning games and ggood luck. hope something suitable comes up ffor you soon

ANTagony · 09/09/2010 12:47

Can you start phoning or visiting the schools direct your self?

When I moved areas I didn't know what the process was so started visiting schools and meeting heads then the school I liked sorted most of the paperwork for me.

The LA will probably be a few weeks behind on admin of which schools have places available etc. Most of the school secretarys will probably tell you straight away if they've had drop outs and have unallocated places.

Good luck.

Original poster

kmlibra · 09/09/2010 13:49

Sereka and ANTagony thank you so much for your replies.
ANTagony yes,I tried phoning n visiting schools myself n some of them told me they have places but they can't do anything as they will only take the children through LA.
When i phoned LA and told that particular school has 2 places available ,LA told that it doesn't matter what school is saying to you,there might be many children waiting for that school before you and they will get the place first.

Sereka my DS is 6 years old and he is suppose to go in year 1 now.He was so exicted about going to new school and getting new uniforms.
He always keeps on asking me about his school when he sees children going n coming back from school and I have no answer.

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 09/09/2010 13:52

But legally they have to educate your child? If they haven't got any places available in the whole LEA I think they have to pay for you to go private......

I'm sure someone who knows will be along shortly....

I would certainly find out who to complain to and be complaining very loud.

Blu · 09/09/2010 14:07

If you are close to any schools in a neighbouring borough you can go on the waiting lists for those, too. Have you phoned the boroughs next to yours?

ANTagony · 09/09/2010 14:11

Are you dealing with just one person at the LA?

Can you escalate your issue up a level, heat of council?

Could you contact your local councilor with the ridiculous nature of this situation when schools need to fill places have places and LA wont process paperwork?

Could you contact your preferred schools chair of governors to lobby for you. They get money per pupil so will want to fill places asap.

Keep fighting, calling and emailing.

Good luck (again)

Bramshott · 09/09/2010 14:22

Goodness - this sounds like a mess!

Hopefully someone who knows more will come along soon to advise.

As far as I know, they have a statutory duty to educate your child, and "just wait" isn't a satisfactory response. Fair enough (although still crap!) if they were saying "we're very busy as its the first week of term, we'll get this sorted out next week / on X date", but they're not even saying that!

Original poster

kmlibra · 09/09/2010 14:34

ANTagony, everytime I phone LEA different person picks up the phone.
2 days back the lady who talked to me on phone suggested to appeal for this case so I asked her to send the admission appeal form.Just now I received that n I m planning to go ahead with it.

Sincere thanks to everyone who showed their concern.I am gaining the strength to fight now.

OP posts:

Original poster

kmlibra · 09/09/2010 14:36

Blu, I haven't phoned the neighbouring boroughs
yet but I think its a good idea.
Thanks

OP posts:

LadyLapsang · 09/09/2010 14:46

If you have completed the application paperwork correctly and you have proof of address then ring the LA and tell them that if they don't allocate your DS a primary place by x (suggest one week) then you will have no alternative than to take the case to your MP.

Make sure you log details of who you have spoken to and what they have said.

Personally, if you have been in contact with local schools that can take him I would send a letter Special Delivery to the LA detailing the schools you have contacted that say they have Y1 places and asking to be allocated one.

admission · 09/09/2010 19:27

There is a legal requirement for the LA to offer you a place at a school. It does not have to be the local school, so any offer could be a long distance away. If they cannot offer you a place then they have the power to direct a school to take your child even if they are full - this called the fair access protocol.

The LA is now responsible for all school admissions through out the year, so they have no excuse for doing nothing. If you have completed the form for a specific school they must confirm whether there is a place available and if not where they can offer a place. They should also be advising you that you can appeal for preferred school.

I would look at what other schools are tomorrow in the area and see if you can visit any of them tomorrow. Next Monday phone the LA and ask to speak to the admission manager and tell them that you require an answer by Wednesday over the prefered school and specifically ask what other schools have places. Confirm the conversation with them by email, repeating that you need an answer by Wednesday. See how things then develop.

kistigger · 09/09/2010 19:58

I was under the impression that the LEA's were very busy in the first two weeks of term trying to assess if all the allocated places had actually been taken up by children. This is particularly true for those living on the boarder of two LEA's where they could have been offered two different schools for one child. I am surprised they have been so harsh and unhelpful in trying to give you information or even make any suggestions. Maybe they are so stressed they cannot cope, not helpful to your situation though, obviously!

PositiveAttitude · 09/09/2010 20:10

As Admission says, but I also believe that they are obliged to provide your DS with at least 5 hours of home tuition a week, in the meantime, if he has not got a place within 3 weeks.

I would start asking some serious questions and get a name of top person in the admissions department and only deal with them when you call. Dont be fobbed off with speaking to whoever answers the phone.

Good luck.

Original poster

kmlibra · 09/09/2010 20:11

Thanks admission,I will certainly do what you said.

OP posts:

Original poster

kmlibra · 09/09/2010 20:33

PositiveAttitude, when I ask them to transfer me to higher authority ,they say we cannot do it,sometimes they have even cut my phone calls off when I get desperate n ask them about all this.
When I call back different person picks up n I have to tell the whole thing again.
I have listed 4 preferred schools on the form and today when I called them they told me that my DS is on 5,31,10,12 number in waiting list in respective schools and u just have to wait as parents of other children r doing.
I donno who these parents are n what they r doing about it.

OP posts:

missedith01 · 09/09/2010 20:42

OP, if they are not playing ball ask them to send a copy of their complaints procedure, and contact your local councillor and your MP now, tell them you are doing this.

There is no reason they cannot let you speak to the person in charge except they don't want to do so. Don't put up with being stonewalled.

Which LA, by the way?

MollieO · 09/09/2010 20:56

I would also contact the local paper if you get no joy from your councillor. Where we live we had an entire village of children going to secondary school that weren't offered places at the usual feeder secondary due to a change in LEA policy. Instead some were offered spaces at a school the other side with of the borough (but no school transport to get there and no public transport from the village) and some weren't offered any place at all. Due to public pressure the LEA had to fund extra classes and teachers at the normal feeder school and change their policy.

Curlybrunette · 09/09/2010 21:09

I am reasonably sure that if you move into an area the LA has to offer you a place within 2 miles of your home, and if there isn't a place then (with Key stage 1 which I think year 1 is isn't it?) they can go over the maximum class size rule and offer you a place.

I would agree with others that you should ask every person you speak to for their full name (will spook them if nothing else!) and if they dare to put the phone down on you (how rude, I assume you aren't screaming or being abusive with them!?!) then call straight back immediately and ask them for the reason they put the phone down as well as their manager's contact details as you wish to put in a complaint about them cutting you off.

Really hope you get sorted soon, it must be so stressful for you all
x

prh47bridge · 09/09/2010 23:42

They do have to find you a place but it doesn't have to be within 2 miles of your home. It will be at the nearest school with a place available provided there is one within a reasonable distance - there is no definition of what is meant by a reasonable distance. If there are no schools with places available it will be the nearest school best able to cope with an additional pupil.

LadyLapsang · 10/09/2010 12:58

Any news yet?

What does the school where the LA say you are fifth on the waiting list say? Are they full?

Have the LA offered you a place at any school?

Malaleuca · 10/09/2010 13:12

I find this incredible! If they fail to provide a school for your child, can you be prosecuted for not sending your child to school?

Original poster

kmlibra · 10/09/2010 13:12

LadyLapsang,
There are 2 places available in the school where my ds is on fifth place.
As Indigobell said,I asked LEA to pay me to go for private,otherwise I asked them to give an answer in writing that why can't they offer a place for my ds in the whole LA ,latest by wednesday as Admissions suggested above.

OP posts:

Original poster

kmlibra · 10/09/2010 13:20

Malaleuca,
I dont think so I be prosecuted as I have written proof with me from LA which I received around 1 month back where they stated they cant offer him either any of my preffered schools or any alternative schools n asked me that they will write me back when there will be place available for him.

OP posts:

gottasmile · 10/09/2010 13:22

Are any of the schools church schools?

I'm in a similar position, my ds is due to start in yr 2. We moved here in July. We applied to our nearest school (in the same street). During the summer holidays the LEA told me that there were 3 state schools that had places but the one near us is C of E and they have to let the LEA know whether they have a place or not. They opened on Wednesday and we still haven't heard.

It's so frustrating. Ds desperately wants to start school and he really needs it. With a 2 yr old dd, I can't do a lot of activities with him and he refuses to read with me as it's not for school.

So, I just have to wait. I really sympathise with you kmlibra.

LadyLapsang · 11/09/2010 16:22

I expect lots of the people above you on the waiting lists don't need the places any more, maybe moved away over the summer or have gone private but kept the state place as a back up.

However, your child needs to be educated and your LA need to make sure that happens, whether in a primary school or otherwise. I expect admission can tell you what they need to do regarding tutors if there is a delay in offering a place.

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