In year applications - how does it work?

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

Do I contact the schools directly, or LA for an application form? How long does it all take? Say, if we visited schools this week and one had a place, would we be starting in January?

Thanks.

Anyone know? I need to start tomorrow.

Basically if you turned up at our school and we had a place in the year group - the child could start once a mid year transfer form had been completed (if in same LA) and accepted. So can all happen in days if necessary! So if I were you I would contact schools you were interested in, check for available places and then arrange visits and go from there.

Thanks. Would the schools provide the application forms then? Or are they usually online?

You need to check with the LA. In some LAs you apply direct to the school, in others you need to apply through the LA.

Thanks. So a call to the LA first then? I presume they have an admissions team or something. I'll look it up.

In practice most people check with the schools they may be interested in 1st for places and then are directed by the school to contact the LA for necessary form. I would check out all the schools in your area, first on their website, secondly I would ring and make a general enquiry and then a visit in person to get a feel for the school. If you are moving to a new area, perhaps ask your neighbours for advice too.

When we moved house we called the LA and they gave us a list of all the schools that had spaces. I then trawled through the ofsted reports and went to visit a couple, then filled in the in year application form. In our LA you could apply up to 8 weeks in advance.

Yes you can ring Admissions team at LA - they will probably send you out a form where you can put 3 preferences on - similar to the application for Reception admission. You can just put 3 preferences down and in fact what happens is they ring the 1st school and ask if they have places in the year group and if they say yes - you're in! If not they ring up the 2nd etc etc, So in my experience to save you time they don 't knock themselves out to ring around as you are implying it's urgent, you could do that bit yourself and then ask for the form in the knowledge that the place is there iyswim!

Thanks. I know which schools I want to visit, so just have to hope they have the place really! Thanks for all advice.

The rules changed in September. Up to then you always applied to the LA. Now the LA has the choice. It can handle in-year applications itself or tell you to apply to individual schools. The information should be on their website somewhere but it may be easier to ring them and ask.