Anyone with DCs in reception and YR2 at different schools, and if so how do you manage logistically ?

[CheeseMeisterGeneral]

We have just been informed dd2 did not get offered a place for reception next year in dd1's school. They are both summer born, dd2 will only be 4 years in august. We dud not get our 2nd or 3rd choice either but a struggling school other side of town. Schools are too far apart to walk.

DP is away with work from early until late so cannot help with school runs. Both need to be in school for 0850, although dd2 would be part time initially she would finish at 1455 when full time and dd1 at 1525 so l could manage end if day, but could have issues with afternoon events like sports days and fayres etc.

Feel so upset they cannot attend together, l had hoped dd1 could look out for dd2 as she is so small - she is under the consultant for weight and size.

Do not want to split myself in two trying to be their for both if them or have to pay fir breakfast club for dd1 which she hates. School has thrown me a real curve ball.

Bad luck Cheese. Are you high on the waiting list for Dd1's school? If so I would defer entry, keep dd2 at nursery and hope a place comes up at the other school. Otherwise you will just have to take dd2 in late each day, I guess. Or alternate between them so that dd1 is late one day and dd2 the next.

I chose to send my DC's to different schools and used the before/after school clubs, but my boys were OK with that. I would be so in your position.

Are you applealing?

I would be tempted not to send DD2 at all.

Its my own fault, the school if CofE and l didn't provide a clergy reference. It required church attendance at least once a month for the previous 12 months from application. I could not honestly remember how many times we had been, counting all of the school services (5) throughout the year and sunday school etc etc l thought at least 10/11 could be more, but didn't feel appropriate l should ask the vicar. l am just too damned honest

In fairness my DD1 got in without one, and l did explain the above situation on the extra info bit of the form. l had presumed some element of common sense would apply, it seems not. Those applying for reception with a clergy reference farther away from the school to me (0.4 miles) get in before me even though l have a sibling in year 1.

We didn't even get 2nd and 3rd choices.

Appeal will only work if something about the process or criteria was wrongly applied - it wasn't l think, but cannot speak to school until next week, if they are around at all as kids have broken up for easter !

Trying to speak to vicar to talk it through, he knows me l am sure, l am just so embarrased and kicking myself for not just doing this before.

We are now at the mercy of the waiting list and hoping someone does not accept their place, and we are next in line.

Cannot help but feel l have been a mug, helping on friends of the school stuff, being involved with school activities and showing a keen interest in DD1s progress. Surely the head being part of the process might have seen our name and either supported our application or spoke to me regarding a problem with no clergy ref this year due to demand, perhaps l am expecting too much of a faceless process. So much for thinking religion is about thinking of others

Forgot to add, we are declining the alternative school offered, on grounds of logistics and personally its ofsted report and present pupil parent's l have spoken to about it. DD2 will be home schooled until we can get this resolved.

The first thing you need to do is get that reference, so you are higher up the waiting list than someone else who also has one, but no sibling at the school.

And make sure you go to church at Easter!

Thanks Lynette, have spoken to vicar this arvo, partial clergy reference done and going to service sunday morning ! Just need to try and get someone at school on monday to drop reference into and find out if they require any other supporting documentation before we leave for hols next week.

OP - sorry but Headteachers absolutely not allowed to be part of process nor allowed to talk to anyone about it - all would be seen as bias. So couldn't mention to you about your lack of clergy ref etc. Admissions law is v v strict. (I have applied for my son to go to my school - I am a HT - I am not even allowed to look at list of allocated children in case I get to see where my son is allocated ahead of other parents in our county)

i had one at pre school at one end of town, and two others in different primaries (one out of county). we bought a second car, as the start and finish times were 5 and 10 minutes apart. and i spent two years driving around the local roads like a maniac. in the end i managed to find a car-share with one parent for a term, who then got a job as a ta in one of the schools (her dcs were also in the two different primaries) and so i ended up doing the morning and after school run for both families...

i also tried after school clubs and using a childminder (in fact two, as no-one could cover 5 days) for the out of county child.

this year, my dcs are all in the same school. life is much calmer.

in the summer, we are moving, and i'll have two in one school, and dd2 (the littlest with cp) in a different one. but the big kids apparently have a school bus. yay.

good luck. it does all work out. just sometimes you have to think outside the box.