ds still not in school

[gottasmile]

Hi all,

I need some advice about finding out about a place in primary school. We moved from Canada in July and as soon as we had a tenancy agreement, we applied to our LEA for a place for ds in year 2.

They still haven't let us know anything because they say they're waiting for the 1st preference school to let them know.

So I think I should phone the LEA and ask them to phone the school. It just doesn't see right that ds has to sit at home and wait for the school admin. to get its act together. I'm getting a little stressed.... should I phone?

Thanks for any help.

Thank you.

I already have been to the school to ask, but they fobbed me off and told me I have to wait for the LEA to let me know.

That's why I think I might phone the LEA and demand (or ask very nicely, haven't decided yet) that they phone the school.

Thank you SGM,

I hate that it's come to this, but I'm getting desperate. I'm going to start phoning then.......

Thank you too Zapostrophe!! Here I go then....

Don't just phone, go stand in their foyer. Be sweetness and light in your manner, but stating that the LEA keeps saying that it's waiting on the school, so why can't the school just tell you direct?

Well, presumably they are waiting to see if a child who has been offered a place is going to turn up or not - I would think they would need to check whether a child is absent because they are ill, or have not returned from a family visit, or are leaving their place. Or maybe have a place out on offer to someone higher up the waiting list and are wating to hear whether they will accept or decline? I also don't think a school secretary would tell you.

Terribly frustrating, but it was an unfortunate time to move, WRT school admissions, and you are caught up in a tricky process. the wait might not be down to incompetence.

Fingers crossed for your first preference!

I think that there is some thing now whereby the LEA is in charge of all admissions so the schools "aren't allowed" to help. Which is daft but I think it does mean you need to do it through the LEA. But phone them and keep hassling them until you get somewhere.

In our area, admissions that fall out of the normal entry time are processed by the school.

I'd phone the school again and speak to the head, if they fob you off again then ask them exactly who you should speak to at the LEA

hi all,

I just phoned the LEA and they said there's a place at our 2nd preference school. They have to put it into writing, and we should have it by the end of the week.

It's not the result I was after, but at least I know something.

Thank you all for your great replies.

Now I can buy a school uniform as I have to start from scratch!!!!!!!

Thanks again everyone!!!

You can still stay in the waiting list for your first preference school, worth it if they are still juggling the unfilled places and unplaced children.

I hope your DS enjoys his new school

I would go into the school and ask! Not waiting for some random office person to ring you!

Thank you, StreathamHillary,

I think if we accept the 2nd preference, then I wouldn't like to move ds. He's had a lot of changes.

2nd preference school is about a 20 minute walk. It's so strange not being able to go to the school which is across the road!!

Why not home educate until a place at your preferred school comes up?

Have the LA actually said there is not a place at your first preference?
By law they have to reply and have to give you the opportunity to go to appeal, not just offer a place at your second preference. By all means accept the place offered but they should be advising you of your rights.
If you are literally across the road I would go into the preferred school and say to the receptionist that you have heard that there is a place in year 2, can she confirm this. If they haven't she will be quick enough to say so, if they have then I would be straight back onto the LA saying that you want the place at the preferred school.
There is now a national ban on schools offering places, it has to come through the LA admission office, anybody not doing this has simply not got uptodate yet.

I would mummyrex, but I find it so difficult to get ds to anything school related and I have a very demanding dd who doesn't concede much 1 on 1 time with ds.

Admission, the LEA said that they've been informed that preferred school doesn't have a place so they're now offering me my 2nd preference.

I am so desperate to get ds into school that I'm thinking that it would be best to accept no. 2 school. I'm going to talk it over with dh tonight. I know he'll lean towards waiting on no. 1 school's waiting list, but I just want ds in school.

This school is complying with the new rules because they told me I have to wait for the LEA to give me the news, which is what happened.

I can understand your desperation,the same thing happening with me.DS sitting at home n getting stubborn.
I talk almost everyday to LEA n they r not responding as they should be.Good luck to you

The LA should have advised you of your right to appeal against their decision to refuse admission to your preferred school. In a similar position to you, we sent our son to the offered school while appealing for a place at our preferred school and also keeping him on the waiting list. We eventually got him in via the appeal.

Thank you kmlibra, it's so awful. I actually read and posted on your thread, so I feel your pain. I hope something happens for you soon.

prh47bridge - They didn't advise me of my right to appeal. I think they sensed my desperation to get ds into school that maybe they felt that I would accept any school!!

Can I ask how long it took to get into your preferred school? And how did your son adjust to changing schools? I just worry that because we've changed countries, houses etc. that it wouldn't be fair to start ds in one school and then 6 months later, change schools.

Our second preference school seems really good, we visited this morning. It's only a 20 minute walk, so I think I'm going to accept it. They've said he can start on Thursday.

I think they will advise you of your right to appeal when they will write to you that you have got your 2nd preference.When I got the letter (around 5 weeks back)stating they are not able to offer him any school place,it was written that I can apply for appeal n that will take atleast 30 school days.
THAT TIME I didn't apply for it as 30 school days were looking too much for me n I was hopimg he will definitely get a place once schools r opened but now looking at their response I have applied for it n I received a letter that my appeal is under process n they will let me know about hearing date 10 days b4 it.
Its gud 2 know that u like ur 2nd preference n your ds can start this thursday.All the best.

Thank you kmlibra. It is a relief, even if it isn't the most ideal situation. The school was great and didn't ask for the official notification, who knows how long they'll take to put it into writing!

Your situation is really unbelievable. Good luck with the hearing and keep us posted. They really should be ashamed of themselves, it's just not fair for your poor ds.