When do I apply for Garden House school & when do I find out if DC is accepted?

[lily3]

Is Garden House School a "register from birth" place? I have the application however it just suggests early registration, would that be as soon as possible after DC is born?

I also noticed it says a year before entry you will be contacted for a tour/assessment. Does this mean you are 'waitlisted' for 3 years?

It seems that other schools (ie: Pembridge Hall) let you know if your DC has been accepted within a few months of applying - and you apply there within a week baby is born. So theoretically you could be waiting 3 years to find out if you are accepted into Garden House?

Most 'in demand' private schools suggest you register soon after your child is born to give yourself the option of an interview/assessment in the winter before the child would start primary school in the fall.

If your child is successful with the assessment, they will be offered a place by letter. You will have a short period of time to decide if you wish to take up the offer.

It depends if you're applying for nursery or 4+. For a nursery place, apply straight after birth. For a Reception place, definitely safer to do it before your child is 2 but no need to apply after birth.

Pembridge Hall is non-selective, Garden House (like most other girls' prep) has a 4+ assessment for Reception entry so you would only get a confirmation that you will be invited for the assessment when you register, you won't know if you have a place until after the assessment and this is the same for all selective prep schools.

You would usually know in late Jan /early Feb of the year your child starts, so if you get a place at Pembridge Hall I think you would
need to confirm the place the autumn before and you wouldn't know if you got into Garden House / Falkner House etc till after.