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Original poster

Ive missed the application deadline to put my dd in school by 3 MONTHS all because i thought she was going to start NURSERY instead!!

53 replies

PimpMyTunnel · 27/03/2012 14:33

My dd is 3 and a half and I went down to the school which has a nursery attached to it to apply to put her in there in September. My sister told me children start reception the term before their FIFTH birthday. For my dd that would be in January as dds birthday in june - so I thought she would turn 4 in June 12 and start reception September 12. However when I for there I was shocked to find out that she starts actual school un September and I the deadline was 15th January to apply. It's now nearly APRIL! The school is 5 mins walk and I REALLY wanted her to go there but as the school only has 90 places I have no chance now as they will all be taken. The next school is a 30 minute bus ride away which is a pain but not too much if a problem but only has 30 spaces which will all have been taken as I'm 2 months late. And that's not to mention siblings always get accepted into schools first so it makes it harder for my dd to get accepted. I'm so upset that u didn't even know when my dd started school by and I feel so stupid :(

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tantrumsandballoons · 27/03/2012 15:22

And if it makes you feel better, I didnt know I had to fill in a junior school application for my ds2 as he was already at the same infant school. I got a letter home from the head asking which junior school he was going to, I had to go to the school office the next day and explain myself BlushBlush

prh47bridge · 27/03/2012 16:51

Just to get the basics right, your daughter must start school by the beginning of term AFTER her fifth birthday. However, as you have discovered, you should have applied in January for a place to start in September this year. You could then have deferred entry until later in the academic year if you wanted. Your daughter does not have to start school until September 2013 but if you wait until then she will go straight into Y1, skipping Reception completely.

As others have said, the LA has to find a place for your daughter and if it is over 2 miles from your home by the shortest safe walking route they must provide free transport for her (but not for you).

You can also go on the waiting list for your local schools if you dn't get a place at one of them. Your daughter's position on the waiting list is determined by the school's admission criteria. You will not go to the back of the waiting list just because you applied late.

Northernlurker · 27/03/2012 17:00

If your daughter hasn't accessed any sort of nursery or playgroup at all (and I'm assuming she hasn't as they all tend to have posters up reminding people when you need to apply) then I would urge you to defer entry at whatever school you get till the January at least and look for something for the two terms before that. Going from absolutely nothing in to school will be a BIG adjustment otherwise. Can she do part time at the school you like? That would be the alternative.

3duracellbunnies · 27/03/2012 17:27

Hopefully you have rung the LEA now and are sorting it out. Don't panic though. Dd school v oversubscribed, but already 2 terms in there have been 3 places in 2 reception classes due to people moving etc, not to mention any movement between offers going out and starting school. I know of people who have forgotten to put their 3rd child down. They seem too little don't they?

As other people have said you might want to consider putting her into the nursery anyway, and deferring until Jan. Also if you have got this far without needing any childcare you could home ed until a place comes up near you. Ring them now and let us know how you get on.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 27/03/2012 17:44

I agree with some others that you should try and find her some preschool hours to do, otherwise it is going to be a massive step for her.

Please do ring your local authority because admissions policies vary from one area to another. My LA are quite explicit that all late applications are considered after all other applications, but based on the responses on this thread that doesn't seem to be the case in all areas.

prh47bridge · 27/03/2012 17:55

Late applications are considered after all applications everywhere. That is the point of having a deadline. However, that is only for the initial offers. Once waiting lists are in operation they must be ordered using the school's admission criteria. Late applications cannot be placed at the end of the queue. That would be a breach of the Admissions Code.

prh47bridge · 27/03/2012 17:56

Sorry - "after all applications" should be "after all on time applications"

thegreylady · 27/03/2012 18:25

Please talk to the Headteachers concerned and explain.Get yourself on the waiying lists for both schools asap and ask your LEA what other options are available for your dd.

thegreylady · 27/03/2012 18:26

waiting

BabsJansen · 27/03/2012 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShowOfHands · 27/03/2012 18:36

Did you not get a letter from the council explaining all this?

sparkle12mar08 · 27/03/2012 18:38

Don't be so rude Babs! The OP is not wasting time she's simply asking advice which is exactly what these boards are for.

tantrumsandballoons · 27/03/2012 18:39

She wasn't wasting time, she was asking for advice, which she got.

Are people not allowed to do that anymore?

tantrumsandballoons · 27/03/2012 18:39

Sorry xpost sparkles Sad

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 27/03/2012 18:42

Lesson learned here is don't listen to your sister or infact anyone who think they know how it works. They invariably don't - best call Admissions at your LA.

DeepThought · 27/03/2012 18:46

Where is the child's father in all this? You ought not blame yourself ENTIRELY

BeehavingBaby · 27/03/2012 18:53

Hopefully a application ASAP to a 3 form intake school (or does the school have only 90 places in total?!) will result in a place for your DD. Mine went straight from home with me to full-time school and was absolutely fine, loved it.

libelulle · 27/03/2012 20:01

90 places is not 'only' 90 places, it's a really big intake. That hugely increases the chances of getting a place, either in second round or from waiting list. But a good lesson to never take hearsay as fact when it comes to school applications. The amount of rubbish intelligent people spout is amazing. 'oh, dd'll get in because my mum is on the board of governors' was most jawdropping gem I heard, but there were many others!

prh47bridge · 27/03/2012 20:07

Just to note that, whilst there is nothing wrong with talking to head teachers and it can be a good idea, they cannot admit your child or put her higher up the waiting list. They must follow the published admission criteria.

Itfinallyhappened · 27/03/2012 20:09

My dds school has an intake of 34 we applied for a place in late July early August as we were moving in October but to told were to till then (military family) and she got into my first choice so try not to worry, good luck

Northernlurker · 27/03/2012 20:47

showofhands - the council can't send letters to dcs they don't know exist. If the OP's child hasn't used any childcare facility or claimed her free 15 hours then how are the council to know she's there?

curtainrail · 27/03/2012 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dixiechick1975 · 27/03/2012 21:17

Once you have got school application sorted do consider trying to find a pre school place for her after Easter. She is entitled to 15 hours funded a week.

I started my DD at the pre school attached to the school she would be attending in April - just one day a week (she did go to pre school elsewhere aswell)

Think she only went 12 times but it was enough to make her feel comfortable - made me laugh when she started reception and said there was a new girl - she obviously didn't feel like a new girl herself.

fatherchewylouis · 27/03/2012 21:20

Many councils don't send letters (mine doesn'). I know of a few people that waited for letters to tell them to apply and nearly missed the deadline as a result (my own sister included because her son didn't go to nursery or pre-school - she only applied on time because I asked her about her application).

If the child doesn't go to nursery or pre-school it would be very easy not to know when to apply.

I would echo others that say 90 is a large intake and you have a good chance of getting catchment school anyway and, even if not, getting to the top of the waiting list for a January start, which is what you were planning for anyway and which many parents of summer children do or prefer anyway.

Good luck!

lou2321 · 27/03/2012 21:49

One of the parents at my pre-school thought that the pre-school applied for her, even though we'd given out the flyers telling her how to apply and she had never filled out anything to tell us which school etc etc. Her DS was allocated their catchment school as it wasn't full but they got in to the school they wanted before he started as he went straight on the waiting list.

There's definitely still hope but you may not get into your first choice but definitely go on the waiting list.

You should definitely find a pre-school or nursery for the summer term, it will really help your DC to prepare for school.