No Year 1 school place - how can I bridge the gap?

[EllaRees]

We moved to Sutton over the summer and despite applying at the end of July as instructed, my son (5yrs) does not have a Year 1 place. What can I do to keep up his learning while we deal with the system? I think it's likely to b October before he gets a place. My husband and I both work and have a 2 year old who is only at nursery 2 days a week, so we're quite limited on sitting down and reading/writing/maths etc.

Also very happy to hear from anyone who has been through this rather frustrating process. He really misses school, and as a summer baby he is already behind the rest of the class.

I'm no expert by any means and there are lots of people who will be along later I am sure but I thought the LA was legally obliged to find a school place for a child. I also believe as you have moved to the area this would be called an 'excepted pupil' in an appeal for an infant place.

Has your LA offered you a school place at all?

I am sure others with more knowledge will be along soon but I am fighting my own admission battles at the moment so didn't want to read and not post.

You could try to take advantage of the information released today that summer borns can go down a year. If he went back into Reception at some point this year he wouldn't miss any time- just miss some of the repeated year. Then start Y1 fresh next year.

Thanks both. It says allow 20 school days for a reply (which given we've been waiting over summer hols takes us to end of Sept), then 30 days to appeal. I suspect we'll be offered a place 2 miles away, but that's too far for me to drop him and also my daughter off to nursery, and get myself to work on public transport.

I know the standard tactic is to keep phoning and pestering them, which I will start to do from next week as they must know by then if any kids aren't taking up their places (the reason I keep being given for having to wait).