High on waiting list - when do I buy school uniform?

[howlongisitnow]

We’ve just bought a house and that’s put us high in the waiting list for a reception place at the schools we like (positions two, two, two and one).

It’s a busy London Borough. The first two schools are two-form entry. The third school is three form entry. And the final school is one form entry.

But presumably by now much of the movement will have happened, with those spaces already filled?

Waiting lists are being wiped next week, with everyone interested having to reapply. No idea what kind of impact that has!

Should I bite the bullet and buy school uniform for the school we have a place?

I hate waste but don’t want my child to start without the right things.

Advice? Thanks for reading.

DD was no.42 on the waiting list for our first choice in central London at this point, we were offered a place 3 weeks after the start of term.

School was the only one in the area that wasn't grey uniform so I did a mad dash to John Lewis who were the only ones that had small sizes in navy in stock. She just went in grey for the first week till we sorted thing.

Are there huge differences in the uniform? Somethings like polo shirts are really easy to get, others like small pinafores/trousers can be harder if you leave it till the last minute.

Wow, 42! That does give me hope.

The school we’ve been allocated is an academy so (of course) the uniform is branded.

The reception places are always difficult to rationalise as it is quiet easy for there to be a lot of movement up to and including the start of September in some schools with the alternative of absolutely no movement in the whole of the reception year also happening a lot.
Not sure where your information came from about the waiting list being wiped next week because by law the LA / admission authority has to keep waiting lists open till 31st December. You need to check that out.
My inclination would be to hold off buying anything till the last week in August and then only buy essentials because with 4 schools all with reasonably high positions on waiting lists you will be unlucky if nothing becomes available before September.

Waiting lists don't get 'wiped' until the 31st December OP...you have either misunderstood or been given wrong information there. Don't buy anything until you have a confirmed place.

I did think it sounded a bit odd on the phone.

She said that on Friday we’ll get an email telling us that, in twenty working days, if we want to remain on the wait list then we have to reapply / fill in some form. That everyone has to do this.

Two of the schools we visited told us the same.

So do you think they’re not telling the truth? Or breaking the rules in some way?

I have a confirmed space at a school - which will be fine I’m sure. But obviously we’d prefer one of the top choices

Our school are not doing full school uniform this year due to covid and needing clean clothes daily. So even if you bought and were awarded a place it would possibly be a waste anyway if they have a similar policy.

I would wait at least a month. Then buy the bare minimum and keep the tags on everything. Get the printed clothes name labels or name stamp so you can just label things the night before if necessary.