Guidance on Ewell Grove Primary please

[BackinLondon2019]

Hello all,

We're moving to the area very soon as have just sent out an in year application for my DDs to start the second week of Sept (we have been living abroad for the past two years). As I won't hear from Surrey admissions board until in a couple of weeks time I wanted to get a head start and start ordering their uniforms etc (I rang the school back in June and they confirmed they had places for them). I was wondering ....:

• Do I have to get them the school backpack or can they have their own chosen one?
• Ditto re school coat: any dark coat would be ok or do I need to buy the one with the school logo?
• Any stationary/pencil cases etc that they need to buy?

Thank you!

Backpack - Year 3+ they need school one. Don't need school coat.

Pretty sure they don't need stationery etc.

I would be tempted to get confirmation before you buy anything if you have only just done the application - just because places existed in June doesn't mean they do now....

Thank you so much Patricia, very useful info!

I'm worried items with the logo (ie tie, jumper) will take a while to arrive once I order them and would hate for the girls to, on top of starting a week late, not be able to wear the full uniform. I was planning on returning anything with a logo should we get our second option..... Unless there's a physical shop nearby where I can buy them the day before?

I was thinking the same - I'd wait before buying stuff. The spaces might have been filled or there could be a lot of other applicants and you might not get priority.

They won't have reserved those spaces though- they're not allowed to. So I wouldn't buy anything until you've had something definite to say there is space.

Thank you all. You've made me rethink my plan..... might just order a plain grey skirt and white shirt for each for now and at least I'll have something waiting for them when we arrive (we fly in from abroad the day before they would be starting school).

Any idea of how long Surrey admissions usually take to make a decision re in year applications?

Thank you again

You normally can't apply until a child is at the new address (I take it you've fudged that one a bit ;)) I don't know Surrey applications specifically, but I'd allow a few days to for things to happen even if the school place is still available.

Not fudging :). When you apply for an in year place from abroad proof of travel (when the child will be arriving to the UK) and a signed tenancy agreement with the moving in date are sufficient.

That’s nice of Surrey. Some London boroughs want to see the child in the flesh to accept the application.

BackinLondon
Honestly, dont buy anything yet. I placed a M&S order for uniform the day before we flew, and collected it the day we landed (my council offered us places before we landed too - and only asked for a copy of our Visa, so I sent the UK passport photo page!). There is absolutely no guarantee that places available in June are available now - we flew in June to get places for the last few weeks of term. ASDA will also let you do this. And probably many more places.

Very unlikely to need to send anything other than a water bottle, PE kit (which will be kept at school -my kids are most perturbed by this, as they are used to taking it in as needed), and a lunchbox if not taking school dinners. And some form of bag to put it all in.

Good luck with the move.