Moving and applying for primary school - missed deadline

[KarinG]

Hi,
I have a DS who will be starting school this september (reception class). i've been offered a job within my existing company but at a different office, so this will mean moving. We know where we will be moving to (house wise - in with my sister and her family until we sell our own place and find somewhere else to buy, so could realistically be for 6 months to a year), but not exactly when - depends on a few factors mainly around finding childcare, my work are flexible as to when I move (although will likely be in the next 3 months, so before school starts). I've rung the council in the area we're moving to and they say that I cant apply for the school until we've moved. But then looking at their website it seems that I can apply, but through my current local council.
My question is this - does anyone know whether it is worth applying now through my own council? If they cant allocate my DS a place until we've moved, then there seems little point. But surely if I have an address where we'll be living then that should count for something? Plus, if I applied now, if any places were not accepted when the letters were sent out in April, then my DS would already be on the waiting list with other late appliers. if i wait until we've actually moved, all the places may be gone in any of the schools near the house (the area we're moving to has v popular primaries, so chances are they will all be full anyway, but if i can avoid travelling over 2 miles to a school that would be a bonus!).
So, a long way of saying, does anyone have experience of applying for a reception year school place through their own council for a different (far away) council? What happened?
I think I am sending myself mad with all of this. Any advice gratefully recieved! Or stories of how it all worked out in the end...
Thanks

I presume that you have actually applied to your current LA for a place at a school local to you now. If you change your preferences now then you will be considered a late application and will only be considered for a place after all on -time applications have been given a place. For most LAs that will happen some time next month.
So I think you would be wise to do that. The current LA does have to send through the application to the LA where you will be living, so the sooner they get it, the sooner they will be able to put you into the system and onto waiting lists etc.
Given that most schools have a distance criteria, you are going to be most probably right at the bottom of the waiting list as the LA will be using your current address, but the important thing is that you are on the list in case they get to a position that there is an available place, at which point it is yours. I would also make it quite clear that you are going to be moving to the LA as soon as possible.
It obviously follows that you need to inform the new LA just as soon as possible of your new address, so that you may then move up the waiting list hopefully. I would therefore be looking to move sooner rather than later and as soon as you have a date that is when you inform the LA about it. You will need to explain the circumstances of living with sister for 6 to 12 months, as that will undoubtedly raise some concerns that you are just using the address to get into a good school.
I would also look to appeal for the schools that are your preference as soon as you have a date to move. Make sure that the notice to the LA is in writing and dated, because any panel is going to what to look at the way that the LA dealt with your application to make sure it was done according to the LA's rules.

I believe you can ask to go on the waiting lists for the schools now from your present address. The when you move you should move up the lists due to living closer. How far are you moving?
However if the schools have long waiting lists you will obviously not be offered a place from your present address. Once you live in the area the LA has to find you a school place, if it is more than a certain distance they will have to provide transport.

Thanks for the responses. I'm moving from birmingham to london, so based on distance I def wouldnt get a place from my current address! The schools are all very popular, so I am assuming that i'd get a place at the less popular (but still good) school that is a bit further away.
My DS is currently in the system for being assigned a place here, so obviously we dont need it anymore. I think I will apply now through our council and then just move as soon as I can. So much to think about but I guess the sooner i do it the sooner the stress will be over!