When to move house..

[BananaPie]

Ds starts primary school in London in sept 2015. We're currently living at the opposite end of the country, but will move back by then.

When should we move? In time for the January applications deadline or summer 2015? We'll be moving back into our own house, but would like to stay away for as long as poss as it makes sense financially, and quality of life is arguably better. Help!

You need to be in before the deadline, sorry!

Why move to London if you prefer where you are?

But surely the lea are obliged to find him a place even if we miss the deadline?

Yes, the LEA will have to find you a place whenever you move, but it might not be in a school you like or find convenient.

Stating a preference is not the same as having choice, but the main applications round (ie back in your house by January deadline) probably gives the best chance of getting one you like (or at least don't hate).

if you want any chance of controlling what schools you state a preference for you need to be back and settled by Xmas with proof of addresses etc ready for the January deadline. If you wait til summer you will get a school place some where but as others have said, it will be what ever school has places left and could be miles away and one you really don't want

Thanks, that's what I was worried about. I'm pretty confident that there won't be any places left anywhere near our house, so was wondering if the lea might be forced to squeeze him in as an extra.

No. Infant class size limits are set by law at 30 pupils per class with one teacher, so there's no question of the LEA squeezing him in as an extra (except in the very few circumstances required by the Fair Access Protocol, which is unlikely to apply to you).

Nope there is no way they will just squeeze another in - otherwise floodgates would open. The rules prevent this

Why move back? It doesn't sound much like you want to?

If there is no school place at all within a reasonable travel time from your home, then FAP would be activated. But it won't get you a place of your choice. The school that will be forced to admit an extra pupil will be the one that LEA thanks best are to cope. And that could still be one in SM a 4 mile taxi ride away in the opposite direction from the route you commute along.

But activating FAP for lack of places is pretty rare. There are undersubscribed schools even in London.

Hmm, looks like we'll be back home by Christmas then! Might give the lea a call to see what they suggest, but not holding out much hope. Thanks for all the advice.