Applying for a school

[Londonsuffolkmummy]

Hi hope someone can help me

My son will be 5 in July we live in London but will be moving to Suffolk In April (either Felixstowe or Ipswich) I haven’t got a property secured up there yet but definitely going as my tenancy ends in my current property in April

How can I apply for a school place when I don’t even know where I’m going to be living?

I’m going up to Suffolk end of January to look at properties and will combine with looking at some schools but I’m panicking because I know the deadline is tomorrow

My son is currently being assessed for autism

I’ve contacted ipswich council and was told just to apply I said how can I apply if I don’t even know where I’m going to be living

Has anyone else been in this situation

Thanks

You just have to wing it OP. Find where the best schools are, look for a property in those areas...whilst you look, contact the schools in question and make enquiries as to places.

You have to play it by ear.

Which town are you most likely to move to? Which would you prefer? Are there any schools with an autism unit? Does your ds have an EHCP?
You can apply and you will be at the back of the queue for allocations unless he has an EHCP. Once you have done that you can go on waiting lists for several schools.
I'd apply now for schools in both towns, see what happens and go on waiting lists in both towns which keeps you in the system until you move and know what is happening.

You're applying in-year so the deadline won't apply - that's only for new reception starters. Your kid will be going into year 1 in September.

Is he already in Reception? You would make an in year application once you have an address. You could apply now and if a school is undersubscribed in the year group they are obliged to offer you a place but then you need to be in a position to take it up, which is too soon. There is no imminent deadline unless you are deferring Reception to September 2020 and that would require specific negotiation to agree.

He is currently in nursery

He should have started in Reception class September 2019 and you can either apply for year 1 when you move as there is no January deadline for this or.

You need to be checking the process with admissions about starting in Reception year and how it works. You have until the 15th and if they say you can apply without an address I would be getting the full name of the person who said this and adding this to the application.

I would tell them you will be providing the address asap on the application.

I would apply regardless once you have clarified with admissions what you are applying for.

As one or two others have said, your son should have started school in September 2019. A child normally starts Reception in the September following their fourth birthday.

As your child is summer born you had the option of asking to delay entry for a year so that your child starts school in Reception at the age of 5. It may be that you will still be allowed to do that but the fact you are moving complicates things. You can apply now to your local council in London but that will only get you a school near where you live at the moment. It won't help you with getting a school in Suffolk.

If your son goes in to Y1 in September that is more straightforward. When you move you can make an in-year application. There is no deadline for in-year applications. You probably won't get much choice over where he goes (if any) as most schools will be full but the local authority must come up with a place for him somewhere.