What should I be doing just now re getting DS a primary school place next Aug?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

I am feeling really stupid as I didn't realise I should be trying to get my DS into primary school just now! He has just turned 4 and will start P1 next August. It was only when a friend was saying how she was looking at different schools for her DS that I realised we are meant to be applying at the moment.

We live in a small village in Scotland and the local PS is about 3 mins walk away so I assume that he will be fine going there and will get a place (?). Can anyone advise me on what we have to do now to enrol him? Do I call the school or do we just wander in and try to speak to someone? Do you need to apply officially?

Excuse me being thick but I've never done this before! Thanks :)

You would need to apply to your LEA! No one is automatically given a place!
If unsure contact your local LEA and they will advise :-)

You will automatically get a place if you're in the catchment area, which I presume you are. You don't need to do anything just now. There will be an advert in the local press, and then in Jan, you just roll up and register. It's dead easy.

Do you think it would be Ok just to pop in and chat to the school secretary to confirm what I need to do? I'm just a bit nervous in case I miss a deadline. I suppose I can ask DS's nursery too, will do that this week.

Just exactly what AP said. You will automatically be given a place in your catchment school.

I am quite sure that the school would also help if you give them a phone.

Otherwise keep an eye on the local paper.

Is your DS in nursery? My DS's nursery was also very good at keeping me informed.

Sorry xpost. Speak to the nursery and of course pop in, or you could phone.

ads in papers Dec/Jan which will tell you what to do, then as pp says just show up and register. Simple in Scotland especially if its catchment area and school is not over subscribed.

If you are concerned about it being oversubscribed phone school and ask.

If you are considering a different school from your local one you register your child at the local school before submitting a placing request.

If you wish to visit the school for a little look around before registering phone and ask for an appointment, they are normally very helpful.

Local nurserys sometimes also get visits from the local primary school so they can meet the children

It might not be Jan. Our registration is tomorrow!

Thanks all! Can't quite believe my baby is starting school next year, so I think I am in denial! I am pretty much 100% sure he will have a place, there is only a small park separating us and the school so we are def in catchment area and as it's a village I doubt it will be oversubscibed. The boy next door waits for the bell then bombs it out the door to get to school :)

FWIW primary schools in Edinburgh are registering this week (14th-18th) for August 2012. For the catchment school it's just a simple form with some ID checks - your area might have different dates but probably worth checking!