Reception admissions 2021 & moving

[agent9t9]

Hi there, looking for some help regarding reception/ primary school admissions.

We currently live in North London but are looking to move out of London to Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire or Cambridgeshire in mid 2021. We had hoped to know for sure before the 15 Jan deadline but for various reasons (husband’s work, selling property etc) it’s unconfirmed exactly where and when we will move. Taking longer than we had hoped, covid not helping either.

We will apply for schools local to us in case we are still living in North London come September.

My questions are what if we do move in say July? Will I be able to get DD into a reception primary school where we move to? Would it be treated as a late application and we just hope for the best? Could we miss out on getting a place in any school? Does DD have a legal right to a reception place in a school??

I’ve done loads of googling but I can’t seem to find any advice. Surely others have moved into a completely different county after April but before September? We will be moving permanently (buying) once we have sold our property and sorted work situation. Moving and renting not an option (and also frowned upon / fraudulent).

Sorry for so many questions - all very new and stressful. Any help much appreciated x

This is exactly why we've decided not to move out of London this year. If you apply/move after the deadline you'll just be a late applicant and will get a place where there are spaces left. You'll get a school place in the local authority area but it could be a crap school or miles away. Basically the ones others haven't chosen.

Your DD will be entitled to a space in reception yes, but as Anna says, it will be in a school where there is space, not necessarily one particularly close to you or one of your choice.

As soon as she is resident in an area, the LA have an obligation to find her a space, and you can go on waiting lists for other schools as well.

You probably need to be prepared to not get a school for a few weeks. I knew of 2 children who applied July/August time and got a space in Oct. It's a busy time for admissions and can take a while. You might get lucky though, as spaces may come up last minute due to people not actually taking up their place. I knew another child who started at one school for a week and then moved schools when a place came up at their preferred school.

With in year admissions, there is an element of luck. Move as soon as you can, apply the minute you are eligible (check this, it may be exchange, or could be completion and moved in). Go on as many waiting lists as you can. You can move down waiting lists as well as up.
The council has to find you a school somewhere. I was told within 5miles, but transport provided over two miles.

'Transport provided' might only mean a bus pass for child(not parent) especially if in a town or city.

PM me if you like - I live in one of the areas above and have some thoughts about suggested schools.

If its any reassurance we have moved mid year twice and done 2 inyear admissions, each time I felt we had a good selection of schools available. Like others have said it might mean a later start to get the school you want, its quite common for a child just not to turn up at the beginning of reception because the family have moved and just not let the school know, but the school can't release that place straight away.

Just crack on with your move, and make sure you move to an area with decent schools (look at secondary as well as primary unless you are willing to pay £20k a year for that) Then apply and see what you get. If you are not happy with the primary school they end up in you can move them during primary quite easily-the younger the better. Primary schools are not as variable in quality as secondary and places come up as people move out of area for other reasons.