Moving House and School Admissions

[gentlydoesit89]

DP and I are relocating for work approx 30 miles down away. My DS is 7, due to start year 3 in September.

I’m struggling with the admissions process for his new school. I’ve spoken to the local authority who said to apply for in year admission, but this will need to be for a junior school in the area that starts in year 3.
All well and good but what if we move before July? Do I apply for in year admissions for the primary school so he spends a half term in year 2 (if that’s even possible) and would I then have to further apply for a junior school place?
Do I somehow juggle the commute of 30 miles for the last half term?
It’s all so confusing so any advice or experience would be appreciated.

In effect starting in a junior school in year 3 is the same situation as starting in a reception class, so people will find out which junior school they are going to in September on April 16th.
I am therefore a bit cautious about the advice from the LA about an in-year application for year 3. My view would be that you are in effect a late application for year 3 in a junior school not an in-year application. You would be an in-year application if you were applying for a year 2 place to start some time in the summer term.
I think you need to be certain about the likely date of your move before you start the process.If you staying where you are till July then you need to apply for a year 3 place as a late application. If you are moving before that then you need an in-year place for year 2 and also a year 3 place as a late application.
The bit that the LA may be misunderstanding is that they think that you are currently in an infant school but looking to move to a primary school for the start of year 3. This would be an instance where it would be an in-year application as year 3 in a primary school is not a normal point of entry.
The other thing to say is that given there is usually a match between infant and junior schools in terms of numbers, you might well find that the LA cannot immediately give you a year 3 place and that when they do it might not be in the school you would want as the vast majority of pupils transfer across from infant to junior school.
I think you really need to get the LA to put in writing what you need to do because this is not that simple, relying on a telephone conversation is not a good idea.