Missed primary application deadline - what now?

[emmamaw]

Hi
Bit of history - I have 3 children, DD1 (12) and DS (8) have both attended the same nursery and primary school. Their names were down for nursery shortly after birth, they had their early years nursery place plus some private wrap around care in the primary school. They then went up to primary school and DS is still there in year 4. DD2 (nearly 4) had her name down for nursery from birth. She was offered a nursery place but they couldn't accommodate the wrap around care days we needed (DH and I both work full time). We were forced to send her to a different nursery, but always assumed she would still go to the original primary school alongside her siblings.
Fast forward to two weeks ago, dropping DD2 off at the private nursery, room manager asks if we got our first choice? I was completely oblivious to the fact that we had missed primary application deadlines - it hadn't even been on our radar! When I dropped DS off at primary I asked the receptionist if I had missed it and she said she thought DD2 would have a place, then checked and said no she hadn't. She was as shocked as I was and said that the private nursery should have reminded me and the local authority should have sent me a letter. I phoned the education office and explained the situation. They said it wasn't their responsibility to write to every household with a 3 year old! They said the nursery should have informed me. They sent out a late application form but told me my preferred school was full. I filled out the application form and took it straight back by hand the next day.
On Friday I received a letter telling me DD2 has a place at the primary school in our street. This school has no afterschool club. It has just had its ofsted rating 'needs improvement' and less than 10% of its pupils are at the required standard of reading, writing or maths!
I am in total despair. We are going to appeal on the grounds of we need a school with afterschool care and her sibling attends there but I know my chances are slim.
My questions are: how was I supposed to know the deadline dates? (Obviously I need to take some responsibility for not applying but surely the local education or the school or the nursery should have alerted me?)
Any tips to maximise my chances at appeal?
And what do I do if I lose the appeal? The only option I can see at the moment is DH giving up his job - no one else could pick her up and mind her five days a week.
Totally pulling my hair out at the moment.

Because children start reception when they are 4 before 1st Sept, like op's child.

Op i really feel for you. Both Working FT and having 3 kids must be really really challenging and is strange the things you drop and take your eye off. Weirdly it sometimes is the really really important stuff. I hope you find a solution

If your DD is not yet 4, is there any chance you'd be allowed to defer her for a year? I believe the system is different in various LAs, but I have a feeling in our LA you can defer and then apply the next year. No idea if that means she'll skip a later year though.

Absolutely look at deferring her. But without meaning to pry into your situation surely a childminder after school is far cheaper than the FT nursery you're currently paying for?

You only have yourself to blame. It is your responsibility to find out not the councils or the nurseries job to let you know.

In my city they have posters on schools notice board, doctors, dentist, churches, playgroups.

It is the only topic of conversation at parties of children this age.

I'm not sure it's helpful to tell the OP she only has herself to blame. I'm sure she's feeling pretty bad right now all by herself! It's a mistake, and one which is going to inconvenience her family for some time to come. But what's done (or, rather, not done) is done and now it's time to make the best of the situation possible.

The OP has a child who started at secondary school in the last couple of years assuming they have the two tier education system. They would have had to apply for the place.

They will not win an appeal based on the fact they didn't know they had to apply.

I agree User people are bloody horrible on here sometimes. To be human is to err and and all that.

My mum did this with my brother. I was at the school already and she assumed that he would be offered a place automatically. When the time came, the school was full

So, I think it happens quite a lot.

Hopefully you should get in on the waiting list via sibling priority.

Could you speak to the head? When my son was on the waiting list, the head agreed to take everyone on there and my son got in that way - I think there were less than 5. It might be worth asking.

Why do so many ppl judge so horribly, like they never made a mistake in their life.

I didn't forget to apply for a place but didn't get one and still have no idea where my son is gonna go. The school I wanted and was refused have been playing head games with me about it as well which doesn't help. Good luck OP hope you get it all resolved

Have they offered you nothing Saturns?

Museum no they didn't except for something that they already knew was dangerous for me

Accept the place you've been offered. Otherwise if you refuse the council will have done their duty and you'll be on no lists. Presumably you've now made an application, albeit late? Put all the schools down that do offer wrap around care. You'll go on the waiting lists automatically and you can keep calling to find out where you are. If you're lucky there will be some movement.

In the meantime, plan for the worst and either source a CM who can collect from the school you've currently been allocated, or keep your child in nursery if you can until the right school place comes up.

If you have no evidence that the LA didn't follow the process properly you have virtually no chance in the case of ICS. However, if you go to appeal, regardless of the outcome, schools have to pay the costs of administering the appeal process.

I think some schools suggest you appeal, as it makes the school look popular, which helps with the next years admission. However for Reception, unless you can prove the Admissions team made a mistake, you are unlikely to win an appeal.

I think schools suggest you appeal to stop parents having a go at them!

I can't see how a childminder is significantly more expensive than after school club. I do wonder how bad it would be if it was an outstanding school DC was put in.

Put yourself on waiting list of any schools that are acceptable.

I think you are trying to find blame elsewhere.

But that doesn't mean I think as harshly as others. We have all forgot something..Yes yours is pretty big. but I hope you find a school that works

As you say in the OP that DC3 is nearly 4 - obviously that means she is a summer baby and doesn't actually legally have to start school until September 2018. So, keep her at the private nursery and stay on the waiting list for your preferred school and any other school that would be remotely acceptable (try to find at least 3 that you could make it work with).

Eventually a place will become available. Sometimes people have no choice but to move.

But don't bother appealing. Your childcare issues are not a reasonable grounds for appeal.

peukpokicuzo Delaying a summer born child that isn't ready for school is the right thing to do. Delaying one just for financial reasons and/or because a place at a preferred school isn't available doesn't though seem to me to be the right thing to.

Based on other posts I suspect the OP's DD will be 4 very soon (this month) which is stretching the definition of summer born anyway.

Plus, unless the LA agree to defer the Reception place, not sending the child to school until September 2018 will mean the child starting school straight into Year 1, which has it's own disadvantages.

Can you defer a place if you haven't been allocated a place yet?

You don't defer a place as such you defer the application.