I know nothing about how kids end up at school. Should I?

[snowleopard]

I overheard parents I know talking about schools recently and realised that I haven't got a clue what happens. DS is 2, but do I need to register him or apply for school in some way, at some stage? Will he automatically be able to go to the nice primary school round the corner, or do I have to do something to ensure it? How do they decide when a child goes to school? As he already goes to nursery, can he stay there until school? Sorry I am so totally ignorant but would appreciate a quick rundown.

I think you are sensible looking into it early. I am in Scotland too. Dd is now 9.5 but I had a mild panic when she was 3.5 years old that I should do something about enrolling her for school or I wouldn?t necessarily get the school of my choice. I think it followed on from reading some stuff I had got through one of the Tescos Clubs - not realising that the info applied to England only.

Anyway, I went into the office of the local primary school just after term started in August.

Me: I?d like to find out about when I have to enrol my daughter for school. I want to make sure she gets a place here.

Office staff: Do you live locally.

Me: Yes - just round the corner.

Office staff: Well - she will get a place automatically if she is in the catchment area !

Me: Oh - right.

Office staff: Have you just moved from England ?

Me: No ....

Office staff: How old is she ?

Me: 3.5 years.

Office staff: You will get a form automatically through the pre-school nursery the year before she is due to start.

Me: She is in a private day-care nursery. She doesn?t go to this school?s pre-school nursery.

Office staff: Oh. Well we don?t deal with admissions here. The pre-school nursery does. They will be able to give you more info. I?ll give them a ring.

Pre-school nursery office staff: You have to look out for the advert in the local paper inviting parents to enrol their children. It usually comes out sometime in January.

Me: Oh... (Thinking WTF?????)

Pre-school nursery office staff: Do you get the local paper.

Me : No!

Pre-school nursery office staff: Ah well - just wait until you hear the other mums talking about it .

Me: Right (Thinking: WHAT ???????)

Needless to say, we started buying the local paper and did manage to register dd on time But what a haphazard system..... I hope things are a bit better now. I don?t see why they can?t write to you through your children?s doctor?s registration to get everyone in the area.

I've just been through this as DS starts next week (yayy).

He was in a private nursery from the age of three. If the nursery is in partnership with the local authority then you'll be able to have them in there for their funded place. The only snag is, local authority regulations say that the child has to be in for an hour either side (IIRC). You also only get the funding paid at the local authority rate, not the nursery hourly rate.

If your child goes to the nursery attached to the school then then they will get a place at the school above a child who isn't. This doesn't usually come into play unless you're placing your child in denominational school which has a high level of applications. Also if you do wish to send your child to a denominational school not in your catchment area, you don't get priority if you're of that religion. Local children will get the places then so on.

Registrations usually happen from mid January. It's usually in the local press or on the notice board of the nursery. Best idea is to phone the school. Some schools do it over a couple of days where you go along and wait to be seen. DS's did an appointment system. You get a letter sometime near easter to give you details of induction days and uniforms etc.

Contact your local authority education department to clarify anything. They'll tell you your catchment school.

I don't think nursery attendance at a primary necessarily gives entitlement over a child who didn't attend the nursery - in my dd's nursery class, one child was refused a place in the main school (admittedly they were well outside the catchment area) and the school explained that all applications were decided in accordance with the criteria laid out by the LEA. I forget what they are now but check your LEA website for the rules in your area. It's always worth popping into your preferred school in Sept to pick up an application form from them and have a chat to the school secretary - they'll know all the rules that apply.

I want my dd to go to the local Catholic school (because it is nicer than the other local school), she is not baptised, will she still be able to go?

Does anyone know?

Thanks

Reply to drinkypops
Usually with faith schools like a c e or catholic the child is expected to be baptised in that faith but the best thing to do is to contact the school and ask for their admissions policy.

Thanks Tori

One of the great things in the Scottish system is that you dont have to send them to school so young. My ds started school today into primary 1, age 5 years 6 months. He was more than ready for it, but if we were in England he would have had to start up to a year earlier. It worked out really well for us. My dd1 was also 5 years 6 months, and dd2 will be almost 5 when she starts next year.

I always end up banging on about this but one of the HUGE good things in the Scottish system (and if you are in Edinburgh you have a great one available) is Gaelic education. My children are at Glasgow Gaelic School, where dd1 has become totally bilingual in 2 years (I have none) and ds coped fine today (he has had 2 years of nursery with partial Gaelic). In Edinburgh the Gaelic School feeds directly into James Gillespies at Secondary, which is a GOOD thing!

I know it is a minority language, but it gives access to cultural events and being bilingual is a great thing, it makes any other language easier in the future and also improves other skills such as maths! Our school has a huge banner in the hall which reads (in Gaelic) "2 cultures, 2 languages, twice the opportunity". Just something worth thinking about if you were interested at all.

Childcatcher comes round in his cart, lures school-age children in with oversized lollipops and takes them off to school. Sorted.