When to put DS name down for Primary School? Help!!

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When I can put DS name down for our local primary school? We have recently moved to be nearer this school as it is one of the best in the area, which also means it is very popular! (It is only 5 mins walk from our new house so really hoping that he gets a place!)

He is 2yrs 5mo at the moment, do I need to be looking to put his name down yet, and if so how would I do it? I have seen an application section on our local council page but I don't know if its too early.

I have heard some people put their DC names down for schools when they are born, but I always thought that you couldn't apply until the year before they are due to start so am quite by it all!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

thanks xx

The deadline for applying for primary school places is the January before they start. (And that would be the September after his 4th birthday). So no need to worry just yet

The LEA or La website should tell you.

Where I live you put 3 choices down on a form from the LEA, you don't apply directly to the school.

No unless it's a private school.

I think (you'll have to confirm with DOB that he'll start in September 2015 so this autumn you will start looking round the school and apply before January 15th 2015.

I imagine the putting their name down a birth thing is for private schools.

My DC2 is the same age and the applications will be this time next year, assuming Sept 2015 start.

If your DS goes to nursery, you might get a booklet home (we did with DC1) explaining it all, but your local authority website will have the details.

If you want a tour of the school, you might need to think about that sooner, before the school breaks up for the summer holidays, or as soon as it resumes in September. You can ask the school about that nearer the time.

Thanks very much for your advice everyone, that has put my mind at ease!!

Its not a private school, so will look into applying at the end of the year. He is an August 2011 baby, so will start in September 2015, just after he turns 4 xx

If you ring the school and ask for a school brochure they can either send you one out (or you could call in and collect) and it will have their criteria for admission in there. Also most schools have open days for you to have a look around - usually in the autumn term of the year before the child starts ie Sept/Oct 14 for you! Most people apply to the LA online where I'm from but you can download the forms or ask for them to be sent out (from the LA) if necessary. You have to put 3 choices down usually - in my experience - if you just put 1 choice and you don't get in to that one then the LA will just put you in the nearest school with vacancies.

It might be worth finding out when your local schools open days are. Ours were quite far ahead of the deadline so it could be this summer. I would ring your nearest schools to ask.

x post asandwichshort!

Runoutofideas - Just a case of great minds think alike

Same time as my dd then, and she's 3.4

Just to throw a spanner into this- my local state primary school (academy) has changed it's admission criteria for September this year so that children at the attached nursery get priority admission before the general 'distance' criteria. The nursery admission criteria is 'first come, first admitted' so here you need to get a nursery admission form in as early as possible to get a place there and then a primary school place. So do check with your local school what it's admission criteria are as it may not be as simple as 'filling a form in by the January before they start'!!

Flossieflower that is interesting as our school looked at doing similar but withdrew the idea as it is deemed against legal admissions guidelines. It would mean people were forced to send them at 3 to get secure a reception place - which many people do not wish to do for lots and lots of reasons...

That may well be against the admissions code flossie..... Wouldn't fancy being on that appeal panel.

That was the ruling on our school (now an academy) following another what happened with a school in the south. Deemed against the code, so they dropped the idea to avoid legal challenges.

That was the ruling on our school (now an academy) following another what happened with a school in the south. Deemed against the code, so they dropped the idea to avoid legal challenges.

Just a thought - if you want your son to start at the school nursery in Sept, you want need to put his name down this spring - that would be via the school direct, as opposed to via the LEA for a reception place when he is 4 - again - ask at the school.