So stressed .... school admissions

[Chiamaka111]

Hi im after some advicez really , we moved house in april and now live in a rural area , there is one primary school at the end of the road who couldn't offer my children a place in year 3 and year 1 so the class is full. There is another school 2 miles away and is also full . My children are now in year 4 and 2 still attends their old school and we take 2 bus in the morning and 2 bus again to get back home which its far -i have 3 smaller children . My dd1 been offered a place at the nearest school while they still not place for ds1 in year 4 i was expecting both kids to get a place ... im not sure whether to accept it or not because i dont know how will i manage 2 different school . So what if i just refuse and keep her on waiting list till both of them get a place ,can someone advice please . There is no one to take her to school because my husband works and our family dont live nearby

Would your your ds1 would be higher up waiting list as a sibliing if dd1 started and then subsequent dc too (when does next one apply?) Could you appeal for ds1 as class size restrictions are less strict in ks2? Has LA offered transport if no nearer school has a year 4 place?

Thank you lizs i have been thinking about this all day but if i accept the place for dd1 it will be difficult to be in 2 different places at the same time plus we leave the house at 7am every day for school run and my husband told me to accept the place too maybe in few weeks ds1 will get a place too, I will try to appeal for ds1 and see how it goes .... dd2 is 3 and she will start school next september and the twins are 6 months old ...no the LA doesnt offer us any transport and do i have to apply for it please ?

Definitely accept the year 2 place as you can't win them on appeal if the class is full.

Have you appealed yet for the older child's place? In Year 3+ the rules are more flexible on class size and it is possible to win an appeal if you can show that the disadvantage your child will face if they don't get a place outweighs the disadvantage to the school of having to admit an extra child.

A younger sibling having a place often doesn't give a sibling priority though, only an older one does.

Have you applied for your dc who is starting in Sept to go to the school on your road? I'd accept the place at the nearest school you've been offered and appeal for the other one to get in.

If you can manage the logistics I'd take the place and hope your other child gets in soon, worth it in the long ru for your younger children to have siblings in the school imo

As the LA has not offered a place at a nearer school you should be getting free transport for your children. If you are not you should chase them.

My view is that you should take the place that has been offered for your Y2 child and appeal for your Y4 child. You don't say how far away the current school is but if it takes more than 45 minutes each way you will have a very strong argument for your Y4 child at appeal. Even if it takes less than that you will still have a reasonable chance of success.

Thank you so much everyone i will accept the school place and appeal for my son even taught hes not happy to move school leaving his friends lol ... my dd2 is already on the waiting list for reception for next year. The current school is 4.2 mile which is 1 hour each on good day but when theres traffic or the bus is full with buggy it takes us more

How can dd2 already be on a waiting list, applications don't close until mid January.

I did apply online i put the school as my first choice and the other school which is 2 mile my second ... thanks for letting me because i taught like i did apply and she is on waiting list till we will find out in april

When your older child has started at the school, you might need to update your applicaion for reception so that she shows as having a a sibling at the school.

Ah so you have applied. Once dd1 has started you may be able to amend your submission to show the sibling link.

Thank you very much