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Waiting for Year 1 school place ... help

3 replies

RooTwo · 06/01/2014 13:10

I don't know if anyone can advise on how this all works ... it's so flipping confusing. We have just moved to a different area within London and while my DD has got a place at local school in Year 3 (just started today) there is currently no place for DS (Year 1) in that school or any of the schools we applied for. He is top of the waiting list for the one his sister is at but of course we can't know when a place might come up, and the LEA seem incapable of telling me where else he might be able to go. I do appreciate that it's the beginning of term and they need to let schools settle down to see where there might be places, but surely they have an obligation to provide him with a school place as soon as possible, somewhere, even if it is a further away school in the borough? Isn't the onus on them to find him a place rather than me having to continually ring them up to chase?

We will home educate until something comes up but it is far from ideal as we both work part-time and are having to do silly juggling.

Should I also be applying for near(ish) schools in neighbouring boroughs too as a back-up plan? These schools are all a mile or so away though which puts you way out of the catchment for most good schools.

It's so hard trying to explain to a keen little six-year-old about when/where he might go to school, when I really have no idea ...

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
prh47bridge · 06/01/2014 16:15

Yes they do have an obligation to come up with an offer. If they don't do so by the end of this week I would ask them about their Fair Access Protocol and appeal for a place at your daughter's school. You shouldn't win such an appeal but the fact you are appealing may prompt them to come up with an offer.

I wouldn't apply for schools in neighbouring boroughs unless you are happy with them and they have places available.

dueanamechange · 06/01/2014 16:23

I am in Lewisham borough, apparently not a single year one place available at the moment, however the council do want a new year one class to open by easter. If you are by any chance in Lewisham you can PM me.

RooTwo · 07/01/2014 17:12

Thanks both for advice ... but miracle of miracles, DS has now been offered a place at DD's school. There was some confusion over a place available and who was top of the list, but it turns out it was him. PHEW!!

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