Confused about which class DD will join

[Schnullerbacke]

Am not very familiar with the UK education system and always so get confused. DD will turn 5 in Sept and start school. But what class will she be in? Year 1? Reception? I am assuming its not FS1 or FS2.

Thanks.

It goes

Reception - which is called foundation stage

then

Year 1 and Year 2 is Key Stage 1

Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 is Key Stage 2

The normal intake class is always reception, which is the year in which the child turns 5, so if she's due to start school on a normal UK timetable (ie you haven't just moved here from abroad) she'll go into reception. The cut-off date is 1st September of any given year, ie. If she turned 5 on 31st August she'd have missed her normal intake, and would go into Y1 (where she would be the youngest child). If she turns 5 on 1st September, she'll go into REception and be one of the oldest.

Oh and depending on whereabouts you are that could be one school or two - Infants - R Y1 and Y3 and then Middle / Junior school Y3 - Y6

Thanks, I knew someone would have all the answers. So I take it she'll be in reception class, FS1.

Now I just need to find a decent school. Ofsted reports for the area doesn't look too promising...

The deadline for school applications for this September start was January - allocations are happening now. You can make a late application, but your choice is likely to be very limited.

But the school places for this September have just been allocated, on the basis of applications made months ago. Did you not apply? Or did you mean that she will turn 5 and start school in September 2012?

You can apply anytime.

We're Army and we'll just be moving into the area. I have heard though that some spaces need to be kept for incoming personell so I do hope its true.

It's different in different parts of the uk. We're not all english you know!

You mean you don't actually have an allocated place for this September? If that's what you're after, you need to get yourself on some waiting lists sharpish. Most areas either have already offered places or are about to, so if you don't start making lots of phonecalls pdq you're going to end up being offered the schools no-one else wants.

If you're after a Reception place for Sept 2012, then you have plenty of time, unless you need to move house, in which case you need to start looking. Application deadline is usually Jan/Feb, but some areas may be earlier.

Yep I know about the deadlines but considering that the Army doesnt give us much time to move doesnt really help. We have only just found out where we will be moving to. Still, late time it was 3 weeks notice, this time we have 5 weeks until the move. So things are looking up :)

I do believe you are entitled to apply for places whilst abroad if you are with the forces. Might be an advantage as some letters have only just gone out and it might help you get a place for your child at a preferred school.

My apologies, Darlene. I thought the national offer day was national. My mistake.

Reception is FS2. Foundation Stage 2. The first stage of Foundation Stage - FS1 - is nursery/playgroup, in other words where she is now. The point of this is to indicate that FS2/Reception is very much a continuation of nursery.

Then it's year 1, in the school year she turns 6.

Good luck in finding her a school place - must be very difficult!

I have heard though that some spaces need to be kept for incoming personell

I don'tthink this is true.My DSs go to a grammar school near an army base and this questiona was asked of the admissions people at the open evening.they said to hold back places in anticipation of other people moving to the area was against the school admissions code.