In Year Admission - school holidays

[Jojomay]

Hi, we are in the process of moving house from London to Harpenden. My four year old has a reception place in London allocated. We are currently going through the exchange process to move house and would hope we are completing within the next two weeks.

My concern is that the local authority want proof of new address and confirmation from solicitor and then on top of that proof of child’s address at new home (eg GP letter or bank statement) I am worried that we won’t be able to get all of the documentation together in time for the new school year and he will miss the start of term.

The in year admissions process opened yesterday and in the meantime we have applied from our London address.

The school that we want currently has places. Is there any chance they will allocate us from current London address and what’s the worst scenario re school place. Could we be living in Harpenden but still only have a school place in London? Has anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks

If the school has places you can be allocated one using your London address. They will expect you to take up any offered place straight away, but as this is summer holidays, that will mean the first day of the new term in September.

The issues that may occur

• places' allocation doesn't happen immediately and closer children also apply for the places before the allocation occurs, therefore pushing you out on admissions criteria
• you're not moved by the start of term. In which case it's unlikely the school will hold a place for any length of time.

Neither of these are an issue if the school remains under-subscribed.

If the LA refuse to allocate places at a school you know to have places in the required year group and the LA are saying that they cannot allocate because of no London address then you should tell them you are applying from your current address and demand that you allocate the place for a September start. There is nothing to stop you requesting a place at any school from anywhere in the country. The problems start when there are no places.
Obviously that does mean you do need to start at the school in September.

Thanks both that’s really reassuring. Hopefully will hear something within 10 working days!