When do we apply for a primary school place?

[cairnterrier]

DH has just found out that he will be starting a new job in July in an area that neither of us has ever visited before ( in England)! We'll be moving in July and ideally would like to rent a house for about a year before looking at buying once we know exactly where we would like to live and also to wait for our forever house to turn up.

DS will be 3 in December so I'm getting a bit concerned about when we have to apply for a Primary School place (or is it a nursery or reception place that we will need first?). What happens if we move house next year as he's coming up to the age of 4?

Have tried looking at the LEA website but I'm still really confused about it all. Thanks

Hi.you will need to apply for a school place the academic year before he will be turning five.Most authorities have a January closing date so, for eg if he will turn 5 anytime between sept 1st 2013 and august 31st 2014 you will needed to have applied by Dec 2012/January 2013.-adjust o your on child d.o.b accordingly. Hope that helps an makes sense

For you it will be Sept 2013 until January ish (for us it was) for a Sept 2014 start.

Okay, so we really need to be settled by Sept 2013, is that right?

Thanks.

Applications for Sept 2013 will close in Jan 2013 and you will need a confirmed postal address to apply (council tax bill or similar)... so really you need to be "in place" by Jan 2013.

Yes, he will be starting the same time as my ds. His month/year of birth is dec 2009? You will probably have until the dec/jan that he turns 4, but it varies by LEA.

Remember too that although you can rent near a good school (which might be a good idea as house purchases can take a while) and then move, any younger siblings may or may not get priority for that school depending on where you move to and the admissions policy for that school.

But he'll only be 4 in December 2013, is that when he starts in Reception class?

So in January 2013 (when DS will have just turned 3), I've got to apply for a school place for him to start in Sept 2013 (when he will still be 3)?

Sorry, am vv preggers and tired so brain not functioning properly.

He'll start reception in September 2014, just before his 5th birthday. You apply for that place some 9-12 months beforehand. So you need to be settled by Jan 2013.

Sorry, Jan 2014!!!

Agree with PatriciaHolm. If your son is 4 in December 2013 you will apply by mid-January 2014 for a place in Reception for September 2014.

So sounds like you'll need a nursery place ;)

Thanks, that sounds good. Nursery place it is!