moving schools but no school!!!

[ladyjadey]

Hi all,

I have taken the plunge and I am moving in with my partner of 3 years. A big shake up of our lives! It means moving schools within the same council. My partner has 2 kids who live 50 % of the time with him and they attend the school nearest our new house. This school is full and say they cannot accept my DD (age 7) in to year 3 in september as they do not currently have available places. I spoke to school admissions at the council and there seem to be NO places at ANY local junior schools for year 3. I have been told to apply, get turned down and then put on a waiting list. What will happen if I am on a waiting list and no places become available? And do step - siblings make a difference to the application although we are not married and he only has 50% custody? I am panicking now thinking DD has to go through the trauma of a house move and won't even have time to adjust to the thought of a new school because she won't know where she is going!!

Feeling worried! Anyone experienced similar?

The school admissions office should be able to answer about step siblings 50% resident at your address. i think they will have a policy to explain that. I believe that by September they will have to find your child a place but it may not be at any close school. How far away is her existing school?

Her existing school is the opposite end of town, about 10 miles away. The admissions lady didn't seem to know about step siblings but I have included it on the change form anyway. She said they will have to find her a place somewhere.

I am also a little worried that then next closest school to the one DHs kids go to is in special measures and I absolutely do not want her to go there, I have enough work keeping her on track in her current school (OFSTEAD good). Thankfully that school is also full and I have not included it in my 3 preferences.

We are moving in june but I was hoping to let her finish the year where she is and start year 3 in september but I will not indefinitely be able to travel to current school and get to work as the time and cost of the journey is unrealistic.

I remember seeing in my daughter's school admissions procedure that step siblings resident at the same address will be considered the same as full siblings. I PERSONALLY would assume that 50% would count but that less than 50% wouldn't, however if there aren't any places then there aren't any places. It would however raise her up the waiting list I believe as certainly our school waiting list is treated in the order of meeting criteria not length of time on the list.

But Peri and Tiggy, are they actually classed as step-siblings if the OP and her partner are unmarried? Seems like a stretch to use the sibling angle in this application.

thats a good point but I thought it was classed as something like 'living together as a family in one residence' rather than it having to be a legal marriage. So two families living in the same house couldn't use that as a reason but a couple living together with two sets of children having residency at that property could. I think the issue is if his children are listed with that residence as their primary home, if not then there is no sibling entitlement as someone mentioned above.

Surely though they won't force an already full school to take her since the dd does already have a school in that borough, albeit bit close enough for the op.

Ah ok- I was going on your statement above of 'If no school within an hour has a space, then a full school can be made to open up a spot for her' (paraphrased!)

I know nothing about school admissions but wanted to thank Tiggytape for advice on my appeal, my son got in from the waiting list in case you didn't see it

If she is going into year 3 in September I would apply get turned down then go on waiting list AND appeal for a space they may not have the space officially but as I understand it there is more scope for maneuver in year 3 upward.

Update,

Thank you all for your replies first and foremost.

Since I posted, my youngest DD has got a nursery place at the same school as my stepchildren.

Eldest DD has been offered a p,ace at another school a couple of miles away from the new house. Moving day rapidly approaches! Eek!

The schools start at the exact same time. I cannot for the life of me work out how I can be in two places simultaneously. Or how I'm going to find two different childminders to pick up!

DD is first on the waiting list but that doesn't make things much easier. I have asked for appeal paperwork too.

It doesn't seem fair to have 3 kids one place and 1 in another when the whole point of living together is to unite our families at last!

We have to use before and after club as school times clash.
Afraid the schools can not invent places that are not there
Hope move goes well

That's a fab idea, I will look into it!

I'm still hoping i can get them all together and I will keep trying, but I realise I can't have what I want just because, although it would be much easier and make DD happy.

Thanks

Just to let you all know, the day after I appealed a place came up and we are in!

Why go to all the hassle? If DD is happy where she is why mess her around for a relationship that could break down? Why not wait and get married first, that would help with step siblings etc and put you in a better position....