Getting a place in reception...

[Pip18]

We are going to be out of the uk until July next year and my son is due to start school in September 2014. I am getting myself so worried about him getting a place in a primary school, or ending up in the worst one.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? How do I apply when we get back? Could we end up driving miles to a school or be without a school place?
Ahhhhh!!!

Do you know the area you are going to be moving to? You could check with the council there which schools usually have places left over, read the Ofsted reports etc and get an idea for what you're likely to get.

Thanks, unfortunately we don't know where we will end up. But I guess as soon as we do I will phone the local authority.

It's difficult to apply without a permanent address in the area. The deadline would be early Jan for reception application. Places given mid April.

What's going to be your UK address while away? Apply using that address. (If you can, make your UK base address in catchment of the school you want!)

If you only have one UK address, where your driving license is registered etc, I cannot see this being seen as a problem, if you are taking a temporary trip abroad. No different from a long holiday.

Just read you don't know where you'll be... harder. Yes, you could end up without a place, or driving. When's his birthday?

Do you have a current UK address (ie have you already gone overseas?)

Unless you are a Forces family, you cannot apply from a future address. But if you are away only temporarily and maintain you UK home, then you coukd apply in the main round -assuming of course that you have the typical evidence many LAs ask for (Council tax record, etc).

If you don't, then you'll have to make a late application as soon as you have you new address (plus supporting documents, like lease or evidence of purchase). Yes you'll have far less choice of school, but the LA has to find a place somehow.

If you are out of the country until July (and not a Forces family) then you will have to make a late application as soon as you return and have a permanent address in the UK.

Realistically, it is likely that the best/most popular schools will be full. The first round of applications closes in Jan with places allocated in April.

I was in a similar situation this year as I moved in June and had to make a late application for a Reception place.

This is what I did:

• As soon as we moved I applied for places at the 3 closest schools. All were good/outstanding and very popular.
• these schools were full and so our application to all was denied.
• the LA came back to us to say that they were having difficulty finding DC a place as there were 'unprecedented applications' this year but that they were confident they would find somewhere before September.
• In the meantime I requested to be placed on the waiting lists for the schools we'd originally applied for plus 3 more less local schools that I would be happy for DC to attend.
• I also appealed for a place at the 3 schools i'd put on my application form.
• all 3 appeals were unsuccessful.
• by this point it was mid August and I was beginning to be concerned DC would have no school place by the beginning of term.
• Then 2 weeks before term started DC was offered a place ata Good rated primary in a village 5 miles away. I accepted the place. DC started in September and is very happy. The LA pay for my fuel and while the drive is a PITA it's part of my routine now.
• we remain on the waiting lists for 6 other schools but there has been little movement from what I understand.

You will probably be in for a bit of a stressful time. Be realistic about your chances, realise that you can make more than one late application (wish i'd realised this! )and appeal even if you don't think you'll win is my advice!

Am by no means an expert but have been though it recently so feel free to PM me if you want.