Support thread for primary applications Jan 2021

[RednaxelasLunch]

Hi all not sure if this is a thing but wondered if a support thread for those applying for primary school this year (deadline of Jan 2021) could go here?

I feel totally overwhelmed by the amount of form filling and the pressure of choosing somewhere / getting in or not. I'm sure there must be some of you feeling the same?!

[2littleboyzmum]

How did everyone do? We got the first choice, I'm so happy but emotional

[HappyTrain]

Glad I've found this thread 😊 changed my preference a week before the deadline as I saw the outstanding village school I'd ruled out as it was too far away wasn't oversubscribed last year and the year before took a child who lived further away from us. So I bumped off the local school down the road I'm not too keen on. But now I'm stressing that I'm not going to get any of my three and end up somewhere completely different 🤦‍♀️ it's going to be a long three months until 16th April isn't it 🤭

[prh47bridge]

I'm trying to not let how they are dealing with this, sway my choices

I would allow it to sway my choices if I were you. How they deal with this is likely to be an indicator of how they deal with other issues.

[2littleboyzmum]

We've got two tours booked for this coming week. One of which is the school we want as first choice and the other is a replacement 3rd choice for another school I really liked for 3rd choice. However the school I really liked also sent back a look at the website and just ring the head with any questions. So that got thrown out the window as I didn't feel a warm nice feeling from them. I'm still waiting on our second choice to let me know if there is any tours going ahead so far they aren't sure but that was last month!

I've had a friend who has a son also same age just chose the schools based off ofsted and websites which I don't understand how you can get a feel for the school based on those alone 😕

[skylarkdescending]

How is everyone getting on?

I had a lovely email and then follow up voicemail from the local C of E (which was probably 3rd in my list) letting me know they are finalising plans and will let me know ASAP if I can visit.

My front runner sent a poorly spelt, short and unhelpful reply saying no tours, check the website.

It seems the local infant school are doing an open session (after hours) with parents in groups, wearing masks.

The different approaches being taken by schools is so frustrating! I'm trying to not let how they are dealing with this, sway my choices.

[Snowmonster]

prh47bridge Thanks very much, the nursery manager said that deferring entry so he stayed there until he was 5 would mean an 'awful lot of work' for her - I think she may have been trying to put me off....

[prh47bridge]

@Snowmonster

I have decided to defer entry for my son until Jan/April 2022. He is a Summer baby and not 5 until the Summer Term 2022. I was told by the nursery he goes to that any parent they know who has requested deferred entry to a school until Jan or Easter DOES NOT GET A PLACE.
Surely I don't have to advise this on the application form - I was planning to wait until I get a place and then discuss deferral with the school. Is anyone else considering deferred entry?

The nursery is wrong. A place cannot be refused on these grounds. And no, you don't have to advise this on the application form. You apply as normal then, after you've received an offer, you tell them that you are deferring entry.

[Snowmonster]

I have decided to defer entry for my son until Jan/April 2022. He is a Summer baby and not 5 until the Summer Term 2022. I was told by the nursery he goes to that any parent they know who has requested deferred entry to a school until Jan or Easter DOES NOT GET A PLACE.
Surely I don't have to advise this on the application form - I was planning to wait until I get a place and then discuss deferral with the school. Is anyone else considering deferred entry?

[RednaxelasLunch]

Hi everyone!

The catchment school has invited us to join a group Zoom call (no tours).

The village school haven't got back to us yet.

For a laugh I contacted the private prep, cost equates to nursery so thought might be able to do it.. they rang back the next day to invite us on a personal tour so it just goes to show Covid rules aren't the reason tours aren't going ahead Just adding to my frustration about seemingly random Covid restrictions.

I'm now wondering if I should look again at the C of E which I'd previously discounted on awkwardness for our now non existent commutes ..much as WFH won't be for ever, it is a nice middle ground between the large catchment school and the small village school.

I'm my own worst enemy in this, if they sold child sized boxes of cotton wool DS would be in one!!

[Tashki17]

I went through all of this for my eldest daughter in 2018 and found the process so overwhelming I actually set up a website to provide some useful info for other parents going through the same thing. It’s here: primaryschoolcatchment.co.uk/

I’m applying for my youngest who starts in 2021, a lot less stressful the second time around! Good luck everyone.

[TellMeAStoryIllTellYouTheTruth]

Hi all. Wanting to join this thread please! My DD is due to start reception Sept 2021.

I've done some research into my local schools and the application process. Given that the main criteria for admissions seems to be distance in my case, I'm focusing on the two nearest.

Both are great schools and the feedback I've got from other parents is positive. However, they are like complete opposites! One is large and academically renowned with amazing facilities. The other is small and nurturing with a provision for a specific type of special need (reluctant to say what in case it's outing!)

I have been researching and compiling info but was really hoping that seeing them might help clinch it for me!

It's so tough this way - Zoom calls and virtual tours just aren't the same. It's all so impersonal.

I feel very disappointed and nervous that I have to make such a decision without ever stepping foot inside

[Zarara]

So I just emailed my local school and the headteacher will do a tour of the school but it will be after the children have left for the day, so better than nothing. I think I’m just going to have to go look around those that I can, make my decision on that and then hopefully I’ll be able to tour them next year at some point and get to see them with children in and hope I’ve made the right choice!

[skylarkdescending]

@OverTheRainbow88 children mix really well, perhaps easier as it's primary school so tend to just be friends with whoever is in their class. We have 1-3 BAME children in most classes. The school is right on the edge of a very diverse area so it's very normal for the children to be surrounded by lots of different cultures in wider society but we do have the odd issue with some of our parents.

We have themed weeks throughout the year - one promotes diversity, another aspirations (with lots of visitors from different cultures/backgrounds). We also increase the children's knowledge through assemblies and visits to local places of worship. Some classes have links to schools abroad (although that is dependent on staff members maintaining it really).

Sorry to derail the admissions thread!

@Purple1x I would check the admissions policy carefully as you could come unstuck if they believe you have moved for admissions purposes.

[OverTheRainbow88]

@skylarkdescending
Thank you, I will look into this. What happens in your school? Do kids tend to mix with each other or do those of BAME heritage tend to stick together.
I teach in a secondary school where about 85% are BAME and it’s noticeable that they tend to stick in friendships of those of same heritage.

@Purple1x

I’ve looked into this, seems it’s ok if it’s your only home and you don’t own or rent another place elsewhere. So it’s your primary residence without owning another property elsewhere.

[Purple1x]

HI,
I've just moved to a nice area on the 28.08.2020, and I'm renting for 12 months until the 27.08.2021.

Would that be an issue for the application of year R? in theory my address would be in the catchment area before, and during the application period.
My concern is if I need to stay in the same address until the school starts in September 2021, or can I move inside the same catchment area after my son is admited?
Thanks
Na

[skylarkdescending]

@OverTheRainbow88 I understand the worries about lack of diversity. If it helps, I work in a school that is around 90% white British and we have a lot of focus on multiculturalism to counteract that. When you get to 'visit' the schools try asking about if they have specific diversity events (black lives matter links, stories from other cultures, community links with other cultures/religions, visits to local mosque, synagogue, temple etc, visitors to school).

Our second closest school is a c of e which I'm not sure about. The third closest is actually my favourite but we are just outside the catchment. Based on distances, last year we would have got a place but would've missed out the two years prior.

I'm really keen to move ASAP but DH is taking some convincing that it's the right time.

[OverTheRainbow88]

I think moving in time could work if you’re able to, especially with the mortgage holiday people want to move fast.

We have got another school we would get in to 5/7 times, it’s outstanding and a very good reputation but it’s a huge majority white school, so about 95% white and the other school is about 70% BAME, so I’m not sure about my boys being in a school where they are such the minority (the outstanding one). I know it shouldn’t matter but I worry it will.

It’s all so tricky isn’t it.

[Twizbe]

[quote BKCRMP]@Twizbe both my children have additional needs. My reception 2021 starter has global development delay.

What forms are you filling in about the SM? In our LA additional needs make little difference to allocations other than for those with EHCPs[/quote]
I've not been able to download our LA forms yet so I'm not sure if I can even mention it. Even harder is that our medical care is all in one borough but we live in another. We're also applying for schools in both boroughs.

My gut is telling me that he wouldn't feel comfortable in the huge primary school that is nearer to us. I fear his SM would be made worse there.

Also as he's not under investigation for ASD or any other issues, he's unlikely to get any ECHP

[BKCRMP]

@Twizbe both my children have additional needs. My reception 2021 starter has global development delay.

What forms are you filling in about the SM? In our LA additional needs make little difference to allocations other than for those with EHCPs

[skylarkdescending]

@OverTheRainbow88 yes I have concerns about our closest (catchment) school. Partly because it's an infant school and partly because it has had tons of staff changes, including head teacher, had to convert to an academy (as part of a MAT) and poor recent ofsted.

We are hoping to move so may not be an issue but I don't know if we can do it in time?!

I was really hoping to be able to visit as you get much more of a feel for the culture of a school when you see the children working in lessons. Even if schools can offer after school visits there won't be opportunity to see 'learning in action'.

[Zarara]

@OverTheRainbow88 That’s interesting I have had similar thoughts about our local primary. I was thinking about it and I think part of it is just not being used to that sort of environment. My son attends a private nursery and it is really calm and overly polite between parents. I just think a school setting is going to attract a broader range of people. How close is the next school to you, have you managed to see what that’s like from the outside?

Also what is their ofsted report like? I know a lot of people don’t think much of them but given that we might not be able to tour the schools it would be worth giving it a read.

[Twizbe]

Will anyone be applying for schools where the child has additional needs?

My son is under investigation for situational mutism. We can't get the official diagnosis until they can see him in preschool which hasn't been possible yet.

The school we really like has an on-site speech therapist for their ASD provision. My son isn't ASD but not sure how to get across on the forms about the SM.

Of course he could feel super comfortable at school and so the SM doesn't present so this could all be a moot point 🤦‍♀️

[OverTheRainbow88]

Well we are often in our local park when they all leave school, and often the kids seem pretty, not sure how to say this, unruly. I’ve also seen parents arguing amongst themselves. One mum shouted at another kid and said wait til I see your mum at the school gate. We always hoped to move for primary school but it hadn’t happened for a few reasons. I doubt I’ll be able to look around now, because of covid. I teach in a secondary school and lots of the kids that come from the school we are closest to struggle with major behaviour issues- which spread amongst 8 forms is quite manageable but can’t see how it would work in a 2 form intake!

[2littleboyzmum]

@OverTheRainbow88 in what way?

[OverTheRainbow88]

Is anyone else a bit worried about their closest school?