Idiots guide needed please

[ShadowsShadowsEverywhere]

I have a DD who will be 4.5 next September. It's occurred to me that she will probably be the right age to start reception then. I have no idea how to go about this? I've looked at the website of two local primaries and can't see any info on when the open evening is. I don't know how to go about applying - again google has not given me any info.

Will I get a letter and admissions form from the council? From the school? Or do I need to apply somewhere for them? Are open evenings likely to be soon? How do I find out when they are? When do I need to apply and how do I do it? She's at nursery ATM but it's a private one not connected to a school. I just have no idea where it even start. Help me!

Where I live I think you have to call your favoured school and get an application.

Where I'm from, it's something like you have three choices. List favourite first...

Whereabouts are you ? Look on your Local Authority/Council website under Education as a starting point - the applications process and booklet should be available there. Don't rely on being sent one, there may be copies in your local library or children's centre too.

I'm in Cambs, fairly rural. Huntingdonshire is my local council. I did have a brief look the other day and the info seemed to relate to the previous years admissions?

Are people applying ATM or am I thinking about this early? When is the deadline?

Go to your local council website. Its all there. The onus is actually on us to make appointments to visit local schools and apply at the right time, between november and some time in january I think.

Its generally up to you to phone and make appointments to view local schools. They all do it differently. I have got one group tour, one Year 6-guided individual tour and one appointment with deputy head lined up.

My council website (Kent) give the dates for application as between 11th November 2014 and 15 January 2015, the application form will be online then.

I'm in Huntingdonshire as well. You need to go on the Cambridgeshire county council website. I can't remember when the application dates are ( mine are older). You then need to decide which schools you want to apply for. Our local one doesn't have an open evening as such but does encourage parents to come & visit the school during the school day.

I does vary a bit, depending on your LA. Here, everyone should get sent an application pack. Here, the applications have to be in around about 9th December usually - in some other parts of the Country I think it's by January. So you really need to go on to your LA website as suggested by others, in case your pack has got lost somewhere, rather than it just not been sent out yet.

Hmm. Think I need to contact schools directly. This is on local council website

"Huntingdonshire District Council don't have any direct involvement with schools or education, although the council works closely with schools on community projects and schemes.

Please use the links on the right to visit other websites that contain useful information on Adult and Community Education."

A lot of the information will relate to last year as it will show probably how the places were allocated for each school for September 2014. That should give you an idea of how far away is worth looking and the criteria which give priority. You could email and ask for the deadline dates but mid Jan sounds right.

X posts, thanks gosh that makes sense. I'll have a look on there.

click on www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/Community%20and%20People/Adult%20and%20community%20education/Pages/default.aspx Search for a School

My nursery sent out forms (it was private) on behalf of council. I wouldn't wait for that as nurseries might not do it anymore. Have you decided on a school?

Oh that's more helpful. Just had a look on Cambridgeshire council website. It looks like application is done online via their website, and the info is all for last year so I imagine in a months time (if November -jan is the usual admissions window) they'll update for 2015 admissions. Thanks for the info and help, I'd have never thought to look at Cambs county council site as everything else (bins, benefits, council tax etc) all goes via Huntingdonshire council!

Do not rely on getting anything sent automatically. Our council does not do it and you may get a leaflet from the nursery if you are lucky.

Your council should have the application form and a booklet available online. Check the schools in your area and see what the distance was in the last couple of years to see which ones are realistic for you.

Then go to the school (phone or website) and check their open days and put your name down.

Admission closes by January, there is no race, sending the application forms early doesn't mean you get an better start.

No not decided on a school as we are literally in the middle distance wise of three. One is the primary for an RAF base but takes some civilians, one is a really big primary and takes well over the average number of pupils and the other is a tiny village school so I think I need to get a wiggle on, contact all three with a view to looking round sooner rather than later to give me time to make a decision.

Contact all three schools and ask to visit, its much better to visit during a normal school day than an open day anyway.

Applications have to open in September so there will be somewhere online that you can apply to now.

Do the schools you are near have catchment areas? Are any religious and where do most children from your neighbourhood go? This give you a good starting point. Usually the website for an Admissions Authority (Cambridgeshire) will have all the catchment areas on a map so you can see where your catchment school is. (Our LA does this). Religious schools may have a different policy so you need to be aware of this. Visiting them all is important. Dont forget the RAF base school willhave quite a high turnover of pupils and potential loss of friends on a regular basis. Be careful about that one if that is the case.

Arrange a visit to all three and then you can list them all on your application in the order you would prefer. You need to check if they have any additional criteria such as faith. The data for last year or previous will give you an idea whether you have a chance of a place. 2,3 or 4 form entry are all normal nowadays. The deadline is January and all allocations are made in April. Do not wait for an info pack as they may not send them out.

The Cambridge web site lists allocations for last 4 years - work out where you could qualify for a place - it gives the previous years distances etc

I can't find it doodle, if I'm on the cambs website under education where do I look for previous admissions?

Yes Milly I'm a bit worried about that tbh. I've looked and we are in the catchment for that one. The ofsted report a few years ago (so things may have changed) had it down as only 10% of pupils as civilian and very high numbers of pupils moving in and out of the school year round so I'm a bit worried she would struggle to make and keep friends. I think (anecdotal evidence) that most of the civilians living near the base send their DC to the large primary.

We live near a base & it can have a bit of an impact in the early years in our area. Although it is a small population for us. I have pm ed you op - if I can help some more.

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/210/past_years_reception_allocation_information

Look under the section on more information on allocations. It gives 2014 round 1 and round 2 then the last few year

Thanks all. I've found the admissions booklet for 2015, I've looked at those previous admissions (thanks for link Doodle). We are well within the distances that have been accepted in previous years for both the non catchment schools. I've also come across a council document about a county wide expansion programme. This states that the big primary near me has already been expanded to take hundreds more pupils, but the RAF school is stated as being structurally unsuitable for expansion which is needed due to new housing development and so a compete rebuild is due to start. So I'm now feeling fairly concerned about that school overall. Will still look at all three. Thanks for PM gosh, I have seen it, will reply in morning.