Do I have to tell the LEA if going private?

[tjandpootle]

My DS is on the waiting list to start Reception at a Prep school next September so we've registered our preferences for the 3 state primaries too as a fall-back if he doesn't get the place.

If a Prep place comes up before the state school places are allocated, should I contact the LEA to let them know or just reject the state place when it's offered? Is there a set process for this or do I just ring the LEA?

If a Prep place is offered after we've accepted a state place, is there a set process for rejecting an already accepted place with the LEA?

Sorry for lots of questions, I've looked in the LEA schools admissions info and can't find anything about it.

Thanks!

AFAIK there's no set rule but if you've definitely got a private place then letting the LEA know ASAP is surely the right thing to do for the sake of some other kid who might otherwise not get their state preference.

If you don't want the place before the allocations then tell the LEA. If you want to reject a place after they have been allocated then contact the school.

We just wrote to the state schools once places were allocated to decline the place offered.

Thanks all. So do I take it then that once places are allocated, it's down to the individual school and we would need to contact them from thereon in?

Did you apply through your LA for a state school place? If so, you need to tell the LA once you have made a decision. There is no need to tell them that you have a private school place pending, although I agree with Grimma. I don't think that you need to establish any contact with the state school if the LA handles admissions.

In terms of the private place, take care that you adhere to their notice in terms of cancelling the place there if you get a state primary that you want. You could end up paying at least one term's fees if you get that wrong!