In year transfer - how does it work practically? Reassurance needed!

[LittlePickleHead]

We are looking to move to a different area in London. Dd is in reception and we also have a baby. I'm not sure exactly when we would move but I'd hope before the summer holidays.

Given that pretty much everywhere in London has oversubscribed schools, how on earth do you manage to make the move, get a child into a new school, sort out childcare, and continue to work? It's the only real sticking point I have about leaving where we currently are, but we are now so priced out we have no choice.

Has anyone done this and do you have practical advice? It's slightly complicated by the fact that I'm on mat leave, job hunting and there is a fairly high chance I'll be offered a job pretty soon, so the timing is not great in terms of taking time of and having understanding bosses. I'm considering delaying job hunting until the house stuff is sorted so I'm at home, so honest opinions on whether this would be sensible would be appreciated. But I have an interview for a very good sounding job, so it would mean pulling out of that and I'm really torn!

It all feels so very complicated right now

Hopeful bump!

You will need to check with the LA in the area to which you are moving. They will tell you whether they handle in-year applications or if that is dealt with by individual schools. Regardless of who deals with applications, if there is no place available within a reasonable distance of home it is up to the LA to find one for you. They can use their Fair Access Protocol to get your child into a school that is already full if necessary, but that won't necessarily be your preferred school.

As my daughter is in reception, could I potentially keep her at home until a place at a preferred school comes up? I'm not going to be too fussy, but would prefer one that isn't really far away. From reading the OFSTED reports for the schools in the area there does seem to be higher than average pupil movement, so I'm hoping it wouldn't be an excessively long wait. I'd rather do this then move her twice and risk her being more unsettled

Yes, you can keep your daughter out of school regardless of which year group she is in. If she has reached compulsory school age by the time you move (term after her fifth birthday) then you would have to home educate if you choose not to send her to school. However, that is very straightforward to do. You don't have to register with anyone or get approval. You can use any curriculum or none. Essentially you just use your common sense and educate her in whatever way is appropriate to her needs.

You might be waiting a long time for a place at a school you prefer, but if you get fed up waiting, you could always change your mind later on and send her to whichever school is available.

In the meantime if your dream job comes up, you could combine home education with paid childcare. The childminder would not normally be asked to do much if any education; you could do the education yourself during the hours when you aren't working. One-to-one is so much more efficient than whole-class teaching that home ed parents tend to spend far less time on any formal education than schools do.

There's a home ed board here at mumsnet which you could visit if you find yourself in that situation.

Hope all goes well for you and you get the school you want!

As Saracen says, you are free to keep your daughter at home but if she has reached compulsory school age you must home educate. You won't get any extra priority on waiting lists because your daughter is at home. Even if there is a lot of pupil movement there is no guarantee that you will be offered a place at any of your preferred schools quickly. You may find yourself home educating for a long time.

I suppose the key is probably to buy a house as close to a school as possible then. Whilst I don't mind having her home for a bit I'd prefer her to be in a school environment. The problem with a school too far away is trying to manage the morning and evening pickups whilst working; unless it's doable by public transport London traffic is a nightmare in rush hour.

Do you have any experience of whether it's really detrimental to a child to move school a number of times in the early years? So to put her in the school that has a place and then move her if/when a closer place arises?

In year transfers are a bit of a bugger tbh. Choice is a misnomer - you will more than likely just end up with wherever has space.
For us that was one school in the closest town (the only one with spaces) It's frustrating as there is a school in our road but that and all the other surrounding village schools are oversubscribed. (not in London)
I have to drive DS on a 7mile trip to school everyday (only other option is a taxi but not keen as he's only 5)
We are on the waiting lists (& right at the top as I have a disability & distance) but we've been told not to hold our breath.
You might have a chance if it's an area of high mobility but if not I suspect it'll be more luck than design I'm afraid.
Taking your child out of the system won't necessarily help with that.

I have to say though although we didn't get a choice DS has settled in his new school well and is doing brilliantly, even though on paper I would never have picked the school in a million years.

It's so hard I'm shitting it as DD loves her current school and has settled in so well, but we can't afford to buy round here and we are now desperate for more space. I have a friend who has recently made the move to the same area and a place came up within a month, but the school was at the end of the road and I think they were v lucky. I'm petrified I'm causing problems for dd but I guess if I can get my head around a bit of a commute its not so bad?

Starting to think maybe we should stay in put in our tiny flat, but aside from the school issue the move is right for us in every other way.

So hard!

Wonky, will you move your DS if a place does come up, or would you rather leave him now he is settled?

Im going through this right now. Had to apply online, bit worried though as phoned the school admissions and got told to apply online so did but its been nearly a month and heard nothing back (apart from the initial 'we've recieved your application' email) though we dont move for a month, does anyone know if they wait til closer to let you know?

It varies from LA to LA. It won't do any harm to give them a ring and find out what's going on.

I think we would only move DS now if there was a problem.
He's made friends and he's doing well academically. The school have really helped him settle and reacted well to his abilities.
The main PITA is the travel but I think that only i'm suffering on that one and the LEA pay milage for that which takes some of the sting out of that.
We are working hard to make sure he has friends in the village as I am painfully aware that for secondary not many if any of the kids at his current school will end up at the same secondary.

In my London LA all the schools are well regarded and very oversubscribed. However I've never personally known anyone to go longer than half a term without a suitable school being offered (usually the first choice). The turnover here is huge, but I'd be surprised if there's anywhere in London that doesn't have reasonably high mobility. You could be unlucky, of course, but chances are you'll be fine.

Thanks Guinevere that has reassured me. I'd be happy with any of the ones within a mile. Half a term is definitely doable.

I'm trying to get through to the LA but they don't seem to like answering their phones!

Does anyone have any experience of London borough of Waltham Forest?