How many of you didn't get offered ANY school place this time?

[ButterpieandCheese]

Hi, our 4yo DD1 has not been offered any school place at all, and has had to go on the waiting list for four schools, none of which are particulary in crowded areas or amazingly well regarded.

I just assumed that children got into the nearest school!

Is anyone else in this position?

afaik your local authority has to offer you a place, they are not allowed to not offer you anything - ours gives a list of schools with vacancies for you to choose from. But no, they certainly don't always get into the nearest school.

My DD didnt get offered a place at all- none of her 6 choices! She turns 4 in July. I have been on the phone to the local authority around a dozen times so far and each time I get different answers. 1 person said legally they dont have to give her a place till she hits 5 which means she will miss her reception year and another person said dont worry we will allocate you something soon??!!
So frustrated as I dont know if I will have to pay for private nursery for another year as I dont want her to miss out on learning for a whole year.

Write them a letter Shazzz. It will at least go to the people who actually make the decisions because sometimes the people on the phone are clueless secretaries who insist that they know everything. I am not sure not I think by law they have to give you a place.

I think some people in London got no places because of the huge population boom. I am not sure what the official line about getting a place in this instance is though, or how far the LEA is prepared to provide transport for a school out of area. I suppose it is always worth ringing them to find out?

Shazz, how much of your nursery fees does your Early Years education grant cover? If you get a place in state school, you don't get it any more but i understand that if you are still having to pay for private nursery it does - as long as she is not yet five. And some parents I know have kept their child on at an existing nursery for Reception Year, eg prior to moving home - then they apply for year one when they move.
Butterpie, if your DD1 isn't already at a nursery covered by thi,s it may be worth seeing if there are any nursery places available for reception while awaiting a school place. (on the off chance that there are kids moving out of them to go to reception in a primary/infant school).
Hope this helps both of you -
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10016103

Of course, the great thing about nurseries doing reception teaching is that class sizes are small - but of course I understand that academically it may not be as "advanced" or "pushy" because of the small size. Still, at four I don't think one should push kids - as long as they are enjoying learning.

I think some people in London got no places because of the huge population boom. I am not sure what the official line about getting a place in this instance is though, or how far the LEA is prepared to provide transport for a school out of area. I suppose it is always worth ringing them to find out?

Shazz, how much of your nursery fees does your Early Years education grant cover? If you get a place in state school, you don't get it any more but i understand that if you are still having to pay for private nursery it does - as long as she is not yet five. And some parents I know have kept their child on at an existing nursery for Reception Year, eg prior to moving home - then they apply for year one when they move.
Butterpie, if your DD1 isn't already at a nursery covered by thi,s it may be worth seeing if there are any nursery places available for reception while awaiting a school place. (on the off chance that there are kids moving out of them to go to reception in a primary/infant school).
Hope this helps both of you -
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10016103

Of course, the great thing about nurseries doing reception teaching is that class sizes are small - but of course I understand that academically it may not be as "advanced" or "pushy" because of the small size. Still, at four I don't think one should push kids - as long as they are enjoying learning.

(sorry, don't know why that posted twice!)

She's at a nursery part time atm, supplemented by home education. We only really expect nursery to do childcare and social stuff, so we get time to work - education is our responsibility and I think she's too young for us to delegate that yet. We're very happy to carry on like this, in fact flexi school would be ideal as an ongoing solution. However, if she will eventually have to go to school, we would prefer for her to start at the same time as everyone else, so she can form peer groups more easily.

No way is she going to a school that isn't walkable though. It would have to be utterly amazing to be worth making a 4 year old travel a big distance every morning for the next seven years, and she wouldn't live near her school friends either. I think if that is all they offer (we live in a town that is technically part of Sunderland, but we are nearer to the centre of Newcastle) we will probably HE for the time being at least, so she can make friends with local kids at activities, then if she does go to school, it will be easier for her.