Has anyone ever got in later in the year from the waiting list?? is it possible?

[cheapandchic]

I am increasingly concerned that my child will not get into any of the overly subscribed primary schools in my area. I am just wondering the point of waiting lists... can you switch later in the year? Has anyone kept their 4 year old home till a place opens up? Is that possible. I am not from the uk and find 4 years old quite young anyway for reception...could I wait? Has anyone done this successfully? or do I just have to accept the place given

You can start your child at the school allocated and keep them on the waiting list for other schools

You can hone educate

Your child has to start school or hone education the term after they turn five.

You cannot usuallyenter reception a year late - if you hold back a year your child will go into year 1. Again this is only if there is a space for them and the same class size restrictions apply in year 1.

There may be movement on waiting lists in a high mobility area / what is your position on the list right now?

yes I know people who have, through reception and year 1. City areas may have higher mobility so make this more likely. You can start in the school offered and stay on waiting lists for other schools. It seems potentially quite disruptive for the child though to do it that way, so you could home educate until you get a place but it's quite risky: waiting lists are usually ordered by distance from school so when other people move into the area between you and the school you would go down the list again.

Yes, I kept mine at home and a place came up at the school we wanted in October of yr1.

I think the longer you wait, the more likely that everyone else on the waiting list will be happily settled elsewhere, so you rise to the top more rapidly.

You can keep your child in another school and stay on the list for the ones you want, as well. I found 4yo too young for mine, too - at least at the chaotic school he was at - so took him out.

Funnily enough ds2 has since started at the new school where ds1 has been happily for several years now - and reception was a whole new ball game here, much gentler and enough help available for the children, instead of them getting lost/beaten up by other kids (yes really) or forgetting to eat any lunch, and no one noticing.

So it can depend on the school whether reception is a sympathetic place to be, or not.

Yes, we got in two weeks after the start of first term in reception ... just moved him to first choice, no problems. He can't rememebr a thing about it now that he's 14.

Yes, dd got in towards the end of reception. People leave schools all the time. She is in year 2 now and settled.

those who got in... did you keep them at home? or start another school and switch?

I think it depends on how oversubscribed the school is and how many other places are available locally. There are a couple of schools round here that have too few places for local children - so some always go to schools further afield and put their names on the waiting list.

I know one parent whose family moved into catchment for one of these schools after applications closed for Reception. Her child is now in Y2 and 15th on the waiting list. The highest they have been is 10th. But the school should be able to give you a realistic idea of mobility/number of children chasing places.

We started another school and switched. dd went to the nursery of the school we wanted her to go to (and eventually got into) which helped, but the change wasn't traumatic for her. We had no choice as we worked full time, so couldn't keep her at home.

I haven't moved mine, but v oversubscribed school, one child left each year for first 3yrs and another few have just moved. Agree with pp many parents aren't willing to move schools after they started, even when they think preferred school might be better. Have heard that moving anytime up to end of yr1 they generally settle quickly and can't remember much if anything of other school. After that it can be more tricky, but some children move loads due to work etc and still do fine.

You need to find out where you are on the lists for the schools you want and how much demand there is at the allocated school. If there are still spaces at the allocated school then you can default to that as a fallback option (you can also formally defer until term after they turn 5 or Easter-though school won't be happy, whichever is sooner). Around here lots of children go private at the end of yr2, so more opportunities then. Nothing is guaranteed though.