moving house and school application date

[dietstartsagaintomorrow]

We have just been given a provisional move date of 2nd October and need to get our sons Y1 & 4 into a new primary school.
The LEA admissions have told us of 2 schools which have places in our new area. We have contacted both schools to arrange visits but only one has replied and we are due to visit on 17th Sept.
I am wondering when I can go about completing the application? Do we have to be physically in the house or can it be done any earlier if we have proof of purchase?
The admissions team mentioned that we choose a start date when we apply and then have a certain time to accept once the offer has been made.
So can we choose a start date after our move in date (We were going to go for 26th October after half term) but still complete the application before we are living in the house?
Who do we show evidence to about living in the house? If it was just the school once our children start then can the application be done before 2nd Oct? We currently live about 8 miles from the new school so could put current address down and apply now, but would someone who applied after us but lived nearer get priority due to our delayed start?
I am so confused and really don't want to miss out on the places or get the application wrong and end up in a school which isn't 1st choice :-(
Thanks in advance for any advice

These are not reception or year 7 applications so are different. Apply now. Put potential start date and keep school informed.

It varies from council to council as to what they will accept.
Some will accept your exchange of contracts as the point the house is yours, and others not til the move in date. Phone the admissions dept of the council in the area you are moving to and ask what evidence they need. I was able to send a copy of the email from our solicitor saying we had exchanged, and they accepted that as proof.

You can apply from your current address. if the school has a place today, and your application is accepted today and you are offered the place, then as soon as you accept it, the place is your regardless of if another child moves in to the area closer than you. An accepted place is yours. You can negotiate start date with the school, as long as you are talking to them they will negotiate the start date.

There may be a 2 weeks limit from acceptance to taking up the place. So if they do stick to that, you may need to decide if you will move them to the new school before you have moved house.

hope that helps

Thank you , so if there are places available then I can still put down my current address or should I use new address as that is where we will be by the start date?

if you apply now, then you are applying from your current address. If that is a different council then you have to apply to you current council. if the school has places it doesn't matter how far away your address is, unless another child is also applying this week.

As soon as you can legally use your new address (eg from day of exchange) you can apply from new address, to new council.

if you apply now from your current address, you just inform them of your new address once it is confirmed.

Thanks steppemum - I think it is the acceptance deadline that has confused me. It would be better for them to start after half term as I will be able to take them to school the following week. All other weeks they will need to be in breakfast club which would cause stress with my eldest - he is already hesitant about the move.
This means that if I were to work back 2 weeks then I can't apply until mid October , nervous to do this as it is such a popular school.
I guess I will know more on the 17th as to what the school are willing to let me do. If I have to apply sooner and move the boys sooner to guarantee the place it will have to be.

Yes. If there are currently places (and no one applies before your application is processed ) you should get the place from your current address .. The issue is how quickly you need to take it up.

Is commuting an option if that is a sticking point?

Sorry , should have mentioned that we are living in a different LEA to the new school.
Will check with solicitors on Monday when they anticipate exchange to take place.

Thanks libraries - commuting is not a problem , but making the transition as smooth as possible for my apprehensive son is. I had negotiated the half term move with him (foolishly I can see now) but I guess if I tell a white lie and say that the school need him to move sooner ...

our LEA can take 3 weeks to process applications, then they notify you, and then you accept and THEN there MAY be a 2 week deadline to take up the place, but with a house move the school may work with you and let you move at half term.

If you are applying through another LEA it will also take longer. You may find taht you can apply now and the dates fall into place.

Thanks steppemum , I think I will just go for it as we have our heart set on this school and don't want to miss out. If , on the 17th, they say the half term start is not possible then maybe my husband could book some time off work to help with the transition.