In year applications help

[Spanneroo]

I'm wondering if anyone can help with a few questions I have about an in-year application for DD (y1) as the council office is going straight to voicemal.

We are moving in a couple of weeks, only a few miles away. The new local primary has a space in DDs year group and I'm just sorting out the application now.

It asks when the place is needed by. Given that it's only a few weeks until summer break, and it's reduced hours/pupil distancing etc at the moment, is it best to say the place is needed from September, or do I need to use the move-in date, even though she would only be attending part-time for 3.5 weeks at most? Would she even be given a place to start ahead of the summer holiday, or do they offer places starting from the following term?

I personally would put the move date - if they don't get the opportunity to go back to school this term then at least you have the september place in the bag. I wouldn't put september as the place may not be held for you - you are supposed to take up the place immediately.

That's what I suspected. Thank you for replying. It says 2-3 weeks before hearing back anyway which will not be long before summer, regardless. In the meantime, I'll get speaking to DD to help her get her head around it.

Oh, I have a further question too as it's really unclear online. Do I need to list her current school as a preference when I apply for her new one? It looks like I have to choose 4 schools in order of preference as with the initial application in Reception year, but I don't want to lose her place here by filling in the application with just the new school IYSWIM, as I can drive her to and from her current school if we don't get a place in the new village.

Put the new school first as they have spaces and put the old school last.

You don't lose your place by applying elsewhere. If it's within a few miles, they may not help you find an alternative though.

It's fine if we don't get a place there. The current school is only a 10 minute drive away and I'd rather her stay here and then move once there is a place than have her start at an interim school.

Thanks for the help

I would put the date to start in the last week of the summer term. It will secure your place ontop of anyone who moves over the summer and might be higher on the waiting list.

you don't need to put her current school on the application as you don't have to accept any of the offered schools and then you can simply keep her in the current setting.