Moving OUT of catchment during application process

[MKmum1]

Hello,

Please advice, it's still a few months before application process starts and I'm so worried already.

We need to move out from our home which is IN the catchment area for the school we will be applying this year. My mum is coming later this year and will stay for a few months to help us with the kids (I'm going back to work after maternity leave). Our home is too small (it's too small even for 4 of us!) and we would like to rent something bigger for that period. It would be only for 7-8 months (Oct- June) . At the same time we would like to let our house.

My understanding is that when we move out it will be only temporarily and we should use our permanent address.
BUT we will have no proof of our permanent address at the time of application (only property ownership).

We are a bit confused because the rules say: "use address at the date of application" and "do not use temporary address". Is 7-9 months consider temporary or permanent?

Please advise if we can use our current address if we move out temporarily?

Thank you

oct- june... BAD time to NOT be in your permanent address house. That is exactly when most primary applications happen. think VERY hard about moving out of area, if its popular school. you won't stand a chance.
a 7 months house would be considered your address at time of application if that is where you are living.

Can you not find somewhere small to rent for mum, that is not your house. It would give her a bit of calm space to retreat too as well

I also would say don't move out, but you could e-mail LEA for clarification, make sure you keep the e-mail if it says you can do it. Some LEAs I think do say it can't be temporary to prevent people doing the reverse of what you are doing. Also what would happen if a family rented your house and their dc got a place on the basis of your address but you didn't?

Try to find somewhere for your mother to live, living with parents for that long would probably be tough in any size of house! (or maybe that's just me!)

7-9 months is not temporary. A standard 6-month let is considered a 'long-term' let! What is the earliest date you can apply on in your area? My understanding is as long as you are genuinely living in the address at the time of application, then it doesn't matter if you move a day later. Make sure you keep the lease agreement so if anyone reports you (quite likely if it's an oversubscribed school) you can prove you were living there on the day you applied.

I disagree with notsomanicnow. If you move after applying most LAs will use your new address. If you move after the deadline for applying most LAs will treat you as a late application from your new address.

I agree with 3duracellbunnies that your best approach is to contact the LA, tell them what you plan and see what they say. Make sure you get it in writing so that you can produce it as evidence if they don't stick to what they say.

sorry, I stand corrected - ignore me!

You absolutely need to get written advice from the local authority admission office, because different authorities will take different views on this. All will view it as suspicious and question whether you are looking to get your child into the school by dubious means. I suspect that many LAs would not accept that moving out for an 8 month period is temporary, but you are absolutely right to be asking the questions now.
The key dates are the 15th Jan when all on-time applications have to be in by and the date, probably in late April when the actual allocation letters will go out. You need to be in the same residence for both of those dates as an absolute minimum but there are a couple of LAs who insist that you must be still in residence when your child starts.
So talk in writing with your LA and take their advice. My advice I think would be to take the discomfort and stay in the existing house for the next twelve months and not put yourself in a position where there can be any question of motives for doing this.

Thank you for your replies.

I called LA and was told that I need to apply from the address we will be at the time of application.
I asked if it's not against the rule "don't apply from temporary address" and was told that temporary address is short time like for emergancy only.

The advice was - don't move or move close to school!

Now I think all people who move just for 6 months have a full right and LA's blessing to do so!

Now, if money allows we will move even closer to school for these 7 months and apply from new address. That's supposed to be immoral though....

Happens all the time where I am. LA say they can't do anything about it. Families move near the school for 6 months, get the oldest into school. Then move back out to the nice house and get subsequent children in on the sibling rule. Siblings make up at least 50% of the intake here. For a first born to get a place you need to be around 500m from the school.

Nightmare, but as you say, LA knows about it and nothing is/can be done

They are wrong if they say they can't do anything about it. They have the necessary powers. Many LAs use their powers and try to stop this kind of thing happening.

don't move out and instead offer to put your mum up in a box room close by. that way she can help out and get a good nights sleep and be with you during the day