should I be able to get a place at a school now if there are spaces ?

[juedanlil]

Hi I have been told that a local primary has spaces free for reception. We can not attend our allocated primary and are appealing for a place at the school My dd is currently in nursery. But I have been trying to put plan b together I have her name on waiting lists and also got her name down at a day nursery for her 15 hrs . But I have been told I can't have one off the free places yet , untill everybody's acceptances r back yet there are free places currently . Is this right ?? X

Thanks so much everyone for your information :-)
@Admission, does it matter at all that mine was a late application into another LA?

Thanks Juedanlil,

I have written an email to formally request place at the school which is not full, no doubt i'll get a lot of hot air as to why they can't permit it! "you'll have to wait for the lists, blah blah....."

Just wondering if there is anything in 'the codes' to support a parents right (if there's such a thing in this case) to request an unfilled place in an under subscribed school? Just so I can support my argument.

School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S86(5).

In layman's terms, section 86(2) says that the LA and governors must comply with parental preferences, section 86(3) says they don't have to comply if admission would cause prejudice and section 86(5) says they cannot argue prejudice in the normal year of admission if they are under PAN.

This is reflected in paragraph 1.24 of the 2010 Admissions Code.

Thanks prh (thanks for replying to PM too)

Got reply from admissions, mostly talking about making the process, fair and to not give places on a first come, first served basis (as would breach code)........but he did manage to tell me that only 3 people have expressed interest in the 5 places at village school and that alternative offers from reserve list are being sent soon.

Thanks Prh. :-) still reading up.

As I asked above,1 does it matter that mine was a late application into another LA?
Winks, sounds like we got the same kind of information only that there are 2 people have expressed interest and one of them was my child. Still not giving up tho. Good Luck Winks really hope you get your place. :-)

Being a late applicant affects your chances of getting a place in the initial allocations. It makes no difference thereafter. If there is a waiting list you don't get pushed down because you were late. If there is no waiting list and there is a place available they must offer it to you.

As the school you want is in another LA you must apply through your home LA. Once you have done that the same rules apply - if there is a place available they must offer it to you.

Thanks Simply123, hope you get your place too.
The reference to reply from admissions by the way meat the pupil access team, not the 'admissions' poster on here ;)

jeez, typo error * meant

Hi, my late application was 3 days (26th April) after the offers had to be back to the schools/LEA, as I was informed by someone who worked closely with the school that there were 4 spaces not allocated. I called my local LA who then contacted the other LA to inform them of my school choice. I was send an email containing the application form which was completed that same day. As far as the waiting list goes its the same as winksclub76 they told me first that I had to wait until w/c May 21st as that would give them time to have all the voluntary aided schools waiting lists back before they could have theirs completed and sent out. As its stands now I believe there isn't a waiting list as there are 4 spaces unallicated so how can they have a waiting list!

Thanks prh47bridge your worth your weight in gold.

Thanks winks :)

Hi Schoolsnigntmare
Your first sentence is correct. I should of mentioned that I called the school and they confirmed that it had been 4 spaces undersubscribed and I have been in contact constantly with the school and the LA since then and that still stands. All the reply slips had to be in on the 23rd April and the official waiting list would not come out until w/c 21st May. I have got as far as being told yesterday after pushing that there are 2 applications that expressed interest in for that school and one if them is my child. The waiting list doesn't exist at the moment but will do after 21st may but again there can't be a waiting list as 4 spaces were undersubscribed.

Prh47bridge, could you tell me why you have used admission code 2010 and not 2012, is it because I hasn't changed?

Simply123 - The 2010 Admissions Code applies to this year's admissions round. The 2012 Code applies to next year's admissions. The 2012 Code omits the statement in paragraph 1.24 of the 2010 code although it is partially there in the definition of Admission Number in the glossary. However, the SSFA still applies so nothing is really changing.

Hi Schoolsnigntmare, they have today verbally offered me a place at that school but said they can not sent out and offer letter till the end of the week because of all the work the have to do with regards to the "waiting list" but she confirmed that with wouldn't be taken back as there are only myself and another that has expressed interest in this school. Thanks so much for your input its really really appreciated:)

Prh47bridge, oh yes it says that at the front of the admissions code. Sorry feel really silly now
Thanks to you too Prh a again your a star :)

Winks, hope you get your place if you haven't already, just keep pushing (nicely)
:)

Yeah congrats simply-123, great news. Just have to see how I get on too