Missed reception application deadline...

[mamalost]

Hi everyone,

I was going to HE my DD (turns 4 in March) but I am beginning to wonder if this is the best game plan. However, I did not apply for Reception and missed the deadline by about a week to ten days. What should I do? I phoned the school that she would most likely go to but the admissions person was already gone and I'll have to phone back Monday. There is a lovely independent school nearby which she could go to, which we could probably manage for a year (it will cost my whole salary each month!) but definitely not when both children will be needing to go to school.

Any help much appreciated! I really wanted to HE and really believed in all the philosophy etc but I just don't know if I myself can manage it. I have no friends with children my children's age and I often feel isolated. All the HE things that I could go to are not in my area and I want to feel part of the community that I live in, not always leaving it.

But I feel like a failure for not pursuing HE and also for not putting my DD down for school. Double fail. Any advice?

I would send in the late application ASAP. She may or may not get in, but at least she's in the system and can go on a waiting list if need be.

You can then look at independent schools if you want / reconsider HE.

If she does get a place at a school, you can always turn it down.

Yes, get the application is asap. In my county I think they say that they can't guarantee that late applications will get their first choice but in practice if the school isn't full you'll get in.

Could you do it online today?

Yes send in a late application but also go look at the home education board and talk to the people there about your insecurities. There are many supportive groups and you may fund someone who can aid you in different ways and restore your wish to homeschool (I do not btw do so for my own children so not trying to sway you)

You can apply for state schools at any time. However, as you have missed the deadline you will be behind all those who applied on time in the queue for places. That means you will be less likely to get one of your preferences. Of course, as marquesas says, if the school is not full up after all the on time applicants have been dealt with you will still get a place.

If you don't get the school you want you will be able to go on the waiting list. Your position on the waiting list will not be affected by the fact you applied late.

Even church schools tiggytape?

I know what you are saying frikadellen but I just don't know if my mental health can take it! At the moment I am working part-time which would also be difficult with HE but actually the main reason is that there are very few home schoolers who are local to me and I have very few friends locally in general and even fewer with children. (None really) My DD is very social though and I feel like I will not be able to give her the social interaction that she seems like she needs. There are loads of things for HE families going on in London but none in our neighbourhood. We would be travelling every time she wanted to meet up with any of her friends and I'm not sure if that's what I want for her (no friends locally) or me (constantly travelling). Thoughts?

Yes, even church schools. Your local council has a co-ordinated admissions scheme covering every state primary school in the area. You may have to fill in an additional form for the school but you always send the main application form to your local council. You can probably complete it online.

1. Late application via council. Check out school catchments etc to see if you can at least have a tactical 3rd choice that you are likely to get if you are at the bottom of the list.
2. Name on waiting list for independent school (you may have to pay a small fee for this)

Then you've at least got your options open as well as you can, and decide when the school lists come through.