Where would the LA have got this info from?

[Lolatall]

Bi of a strange one. Ds surname is double barrelled, without going into all the ins and outs of why (we have our reasons). Dh and I agreed that we'd double barrel, but would use just one name for day to day stuff. So he's Ds Lola-Tall on his birth certificate, but known as just Ds Lola.

When I applied for ds reception place I used the name Ds Lola, rather than Ds Lola-Tall.

On the portal he's down as just Ds Lola. However, one our actual offer letter, which has been received today, they've written to parents of Ds Lola-Tall.

How would the LA know this? Also why would they address him differently to how I've filled in the application?

As I say we do have our reasons for doing it this way.

I got a letter asking why I hadn't applied for a school place for DD

I had applied for her school place!

She has always had her fathers surname which is on her birth certificate, and I've got that name too now. The only time she was registered with my maiden name/then surname was in hospital when she was born. They somehow had a record of it somewhere!

Because they have to use their legal name.

Surely for a school place you have to use their full legal name?

Child benefit maybe?

Does your DC go to a nursery or childminders or do you use the free hours for or tax free childcare? This is where it is from.
Our nursery had an incorrect spelling for DC, 30 free hours had it spelt correctly. When I applied for DC school place because of the discrepancy I had to provide birth certificate and passport to prove the correct spelling.
So the LA has access to everything essentially!

What supporting documents did you submit? I provided birth certificate and council tax bill. So LA will get legal name from birth certificate.

Is your name double-barrelled? Have they just copied your name? Does your child attend an early years provision (claiming 15 or 30 hours)? Do they have a record of the legal name?

You need to register with the legal name when your child starts school. You can ask the school to use a ‘known as’ name though.

Mines not double barrelled, but yes he does access the 30 hours free childcare.

I didn't have to submit any supporting evidence when we applied.

It's no big deal I suppose as it is his legal name, I just thought it was a bit strange that he was addressed differently on the letter.

The LA will have a record of your child's birth certificate name, date of birth, your name, national insurance number and address from the 30 hours application, so they have probably linked them up.

I don't know if you know this, but by law you are only supposed to use one name at all times or you can do prison time for fraudulent activity. Watch yourself and stick to one name for your child and yourself for that matter, you can say you like to be "known by or known as" but all legal documents and applications have to match the registered birth certificate unless you have a name change officially carried out by a justice of the peace or deed poll. You may have your reasons and wholly innocent at that but please be aware of the consequences of your actions as you might inadvertently trigger an investigation into your family if you are or go on to claim any benefits in your child's name and are inconsistent with the name you use.

Electoral register and address?

I don't know if you know this, but by law you are only supposed to use one name at all times or you can do prison time for fraudulent activity.

What is the law? The UK passport office are quite happy to add "Also known as …" in all sorts of situations (after marriage or for stage names), they're also happy to issue passports in different names to the birth certificate even without any deed poll, or a visit to a justice of the peace

It's not necessarily happy in all situations, you can't use a name with any intent to defraud, but you certainly do not need to have all your legal documents in a particular name.

I don't know if you know this, but by law you are only supposed to use one name at all times or you can do prison time for fraudulent activity.

Lots of people use one name for professional purposes and another in their personal lives. It's only fraudulent if there's an intent to defraud.

That can't possibly be true about the names, I know many women who go by different names personally and professionally.

The LA have a register of all births. That is why you go to register your child when born. They use this information to ensure all children go to school (or legal alternatives).
So the application they send you is based on birth certificate.

by law you are only supposed to use one name at all times or you can do prison time for fraudulent activity.
Can I send all the relatives who address envelopes to me as "Mrs DHName" to prison?

Absolute LOL at prison time for using another name innocently

"I don't know if you know this, but by law you are only supposed to use one name at all times or you can do prison time for fraudulent activity"

If you wish to be known by a different name you can change your name(s) (forenames or surnames) at any time, provided you do not intend to deceive or defraud anyone.
Once you have decided to change your name, you can use the new name for all purposes. However, you will need to produce evidence that you have changed your name for most official purposes.

Is there really a system that tracks all children? How is it kept up to date when someone moves, is it through child benefit?

I have a vague memory of thinking this when my eldest started school and being told I was wrong by some very experienced posters on this board.

Government agencies keep and share ‘spine’ information so when they get an application they have to look people up on the system, they can’t just add a new person.

I don't know if you know this, but by law you are only supposed to use one name at all times or you can do prison time for fraudulent activity.

Rubbish. You have only one legal name at any given time but you can use other names if you want. Using a different name is not fraud unless you use it for fraudulent purposes.

The LA have a register of all births

There is a register of births but that doesn't track where the child is living. It is not a reliable way of tracking down children who aren't in school.