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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Still no school place-shit!

41 replies

5toocoolforschool · 27/08/2014 15:31

Ok so a long story short i took my 2 boys out of reception and yr 1 in feb to home educate them.I decided about a month ago i would like them to go back to school (they would like to go back but also have some reservations) so filled in the form etc.

Anyway,they got back to me today after me sending emails and leaving lots of messages,there are no places at their old school (didn’t expect there to be)nor at the next 2 nearest ones.

I cant drive,dh can but its unwilling to drop them off and pick them up (even though technically he is able to as he owns his own business)im really not sure what im going to do,they said they will let me know which schools have places for all 3,and i can choose from those.What if its too far?What will i do??

I really don’t want to home educate them,its so chaotic and i feel so overwhelmed.I have an 8 month old and a 22 month old,plus the 4,5, and 6 yr old too.Yes i know it was my decision to take them out,and I'm starting to wish i hadn’t,but i need to move forward from this.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Jenny70 · 29/08/2014 14:16

Unfortunately logistics will not be a factor in the LEA at all. having them all at one school will not be their concern either (they sound like they are being nice on this issue, but I've been there with 3 children at 3 schools, but no little ones as well to consider).

Our approach was to take the school we wanted, which had one place. Then siblings go to #1 on the wait list, and hope to goodness that someone left. We lived in a very mobile school area, but the one year group we wanted most was the most stable year with noone leaving in 18 months, AAAH. So I HE for some of that waiting time, then took a further school for her social development, but staying on waitlist for our preferred school. We got there in the end, just in time to move countries!

At least if you get 1/2 places (at the same school), life will be slightly less chaotic and HE the others more achievable.

mistlethrush · 29/08/2014 14:16

I thought you said that they would teach themselves - so surely its not too difficult letting the 6yo continue with minecraft and the 5 yo dig up worms until a place comes free?

MabelSideswipe · 29/08/2014 14:17

So if the school you get offered is more than 2 miles away your local authority will have to fund transport but you had places at a local school which you took them out of. Great use of tax payers money! You need to stop listening to the opinions of your partner who obviously has zero common sense.

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 29/08/2014 14:25

Ok well we have school places,its not too far,although too far for me to walk,we could bus it but it would mean two different buses,its 2.3 miles away.

DH has said he will take them and bring them back until i can drive,which hopefully wont be too long.So all is sorted i think!I have the weekend to get everything sorted,they are very excited,especially the youngest who has never been to school and will be in reception.

OP posts:

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 29/08/2014 14:27

Its also quite funny because its a really small school,so the youngest two will be together as the reception and y1 classes are together,and the y2 and 3 classes are together,so next year the older two will be in the same class!

OP posts:

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 29/08/2014 14:28

I dont think i will ask for help with transport,we dont really need it if its a total nightmare i will just pay for it.

OP posts:

longtallsally2 · 29/08/2014 14:34

Congratulations on getting them all into one school. You were lucky! It sounds ideal. You can always take one bus and walk half way if you need to drop them off/pick them up. Hope it works out for you.

furcoatbigknickers · 29/08/2014 14:38

Glad its worked out. Don't let dh convince you to take them out again.

Fairenuff · 29/08/2014 14:54

Now would be a great time to get some routines in place. The morning can be chaotic getting everyone ready and out of the house on time. You don't want them turning up at school late or frazzled, so sort out who is going to do what and when (lunchboxes, packing school kit, reading books, pe kits, washing, dressing, breakfast, supervised teeth cleaning etc.)

Make a chart of what needs doing each morning and let each child earn a sticker for each action they complete, for example.

Likewise, get an after school routine too. Mine always used to come in and change out of uniform, snack and a drink and have half an hour downtime before homework. As yours are so young homework will probably just be reading so try to factor in ten minutes for each child.

ToffeeWhirl · 29/08/2014 14:54

That's great news! And I'm glad to hear DH is helping now.

I don't see the point of your comment, Mistle .

mistlethrush · 29/08/2014 15:03

I caught the thread on why she took them out of school Toffee. I hope this school works out better for all concerned.

ToffeeWhirl · 29/08/2014 15:14

Good idea, Fairenuff.

5toocool - I know your children have been to school before, so please ignore if any of this is old news to you:

There's advice here on establishing a school routine.

Agree with making a chart (with pictures) and rewarding your children for doing each task. There are lots of free charts online, such as these. I always had to have my own list too .

My tips for getting children ready for school are:

Start getting them used to earlier nights if they've been going to bed later in the holidays. That means moving bedtime forward by about 15mins to half an hour earlier each night, depending on how much time you have available. The aim is to get them used to getting up at the time they'll need to be for school days, so they don't end up going into school all tired and grumpy on Day 1. This may not be a problem with children of your age (mine were always up by 5am then).

Have everything ready the night before each school day, including laying the uniforms out. I even put socks in shoes. This includes myself (am not very good in the mornings).

Have a 'launch pad' by the front door where you put everything they need to take to school - school bag, swimming kit, PE kit, shoes, etc.

Good luck and I hope the children settle in quickly.

ToffeeWhirl · 29/08/2014 15:15

mistle - I thought as much and think it's a bit unfair. Lots of people happily home educate their children and follow the autonomous style. It doesn't mean they can just ignore their children whilst they teach themselves and I'm sure the op never thought it would.

mistlethrush · 29/08/2014 15:20

Toffee - I support Home Ed - really take my hat off to anyone that does it well. But then I read the thread and was quite interested in some of the theory coming out in it.

Saracen · 31/08/2014 06:53

I'm really happy to hear that things are working out well for you! That is great news.

clam · 01/09/2014 21:56

Good, so you've got the school issue sorted.

Now sort your less-than-helpful dh out. "Dh was saying i shouldn’t of had so many kids if i just wanted to send them to school,"

[seriously?! He had nothing to do with creating them, then?

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