Sibling didn't get into same school...

[minionmadness]

My niece has a ds who is currently in YR2 an when he was awarded his school place they lived in catchment. They separated 12 months ago and niece moved out of catchment (her EP still lives in catchment). Children live with niece.

Nieces dd has just been refused a place at the school and been allocated her 2nd choice. She is 5th place on the waiting list of 26 children.

Obviously I have pointed out that she might well get her dd in so not to lose hope.

She is worried as she doesn't drive and the two schools are 2 miles apart and she lives in the middle of both so would mean a 4 mile round trip twice a day and both schools start at 8.55am.

I appreciate this is very common in some parts of the country but how do people get around this if they don't have any family support to help with school runs. She certainly can't fund before/after school care.

Change, it depends a lot. the first child to be offered a place from the wating list / continued interest list in DD's year (in a 2 form entry, so 60 pupils per year) was in Year 3. Definitely not before the start of Reception! School secretaries tend to know, informally, the 'normal' number who might get in from the wating list each year, IME [I know, they're not the 'official' guardians of this information. But it doesn't mean that they don't know!]

Childminder / breakfast club / sending one child in with a friend and their parent are the practical ways forward. Because of my work, my children have been to childminders from 7.30 am every day pretty much throughout primary - I know, it costs, but it is what HAS to be done in practical terms.

To be honest, rightly or wrongly, I think I would not take the reception child to school until the DD got a place in the first school. I would not entertain taking them to different schools (particularly if a single parent). If the second school was as at least as good as the first, then I might consider moving the eldest child but they have by then established friendships and I would probably only consider this if the second school was better. This is my view of what I would probably do, but have never been in the situation.

Bear in mind that her DD doesn't have to be in education until the term after she turns 5. So, particularly if she is young for the year, she could potentially wait it out for quite a while on the waiting list. When is her birthday?

At 5 with a 90 admission, particularly if an urban area, she probably stands a decent chance of getting in. Also, she should look into joining waiting lists for other schools which are at least close to her DS's school rather than two miles in the opposite direction.

We got in from being No.11 on a waiting list - we got a call on the first school day in September. Two entry school. Fingers crossed!

littlecrystal - Madness... though I suppose that call could come at anytime really. What on earth do people in this situation about uniforms etc.

DN's dd is only 4 at the end of August so could potentially delay but she is so ready for school and has been attending dn's ds's schools pre-school since 3. All of the children at the pre-school will be going up together and she thinks she is too! DN hasn't said anything to her. I suggested she considered leaving her dd at the pre-school until a place becomes available, she said she will think about it.

DN doesn't have anyone living near her who could take her ds to school although last night she found out that one of the boys in her ds's class may be moving near her over the summer break so there could be a solution on the horizon... She is hoping that it won't come to this and she is able to get her dd into the same school as her ds.

Thanks everyone... I wouldn't like living with the uncertainty and would hate having no control over a situation.