Still no primary school place for DS?

[ALdc]

Could really do with some advice please. DS will be 5 in February and we still have no primary school place offer for him at the schools of our choice. When does he legally have to be in school and when he does start at aged 5 will he go to reception or straight to Primary?

We have his name down for a number of schools and are just praying for something to come up. DH and I are accepting that we are going to have to send him to one of the crappy, miles away schools that do have places available. Every day that he is not in school I worry that he is falling further behind and will struggle when he does have to go.

We took him out of nursery at Easter because he was really unhappy there and we have just been waiting and waiting for a place to come up. I would be really grateful for any information or advice or anyone in the same boat.

Which country are you in?

For UK he should be in ft education from Easter, but you are not obliged to send him to school. You could home ed.

Think he should be starting in january as that is the term in which he turns 5. No advice I am afraid just sympathy and hope something comes along that you are all happy with.

Am in the UK. Am seriously considering Home Ed. Think I could probably manage it for a year or two before he became cleverer than me . I worry about the social side of things though and he is a bit of a free spirit so I worry that the longer he is out of school the harder it will be for him to settle when the time comes.

At least we have until Easter to hope for a place. If he starts in Easter will he still be in the reception year? Or will he go into Primary with him being 5?

He will go into Reception, if he doesn't start until Septmeber then he will go straight into year 1.

Have you spoken to any of the schools to find out where he is on their waiting lists?

Yes. Miles down on some. Number 5 on the one we wanted the most.

He needs to be in structured education from the term after his fifth birthday. Your LEA has to offer you a place at a school (although I understand it may not be one of the three you chose)

Keep appealing, as I understand it schools have to keep places by for people that appeal. Keep appealing as they get fed up with it and relent! (My colleague has now appealed and re appealed on three different occasions and has got her first choice for her children).

"For UK he should be in ft education from Easter..."

Er-hem. That may be the case in England, but in Scotland he wouldn't have to start until next August, though with a February birthday he would almost certainly have been offered a place last August if he/you wanted.

Aldc,

Where in the country are you?
If you decide to go the HE route, rather than put your dc in a school you'd rather not or one that is miles away, I suggest you visit:
www.ecucation-otherwise.co.uk
That way you can find other local HE rs and groups you can go to so that is the social issue sorted.
As for 'structured education' well he is only 4!
Home educating parents are not required to:

• teach the National Curriculum
• provide a broad and balanced education
• have a timetable
• have premises equipped to any particular standard
• set hours during which education will take place
• have any specific qualifications
• make detailed plans in advance
• observe school hours, days or terms
• give formal lessons
• mark work done by their child
• formally assess progress or set development objectives
• reproduce school type peer group socialisation
• match school-based, age-specific standards."

You also don't have to let anyone into your home- so no scary EWO to worry about.
You just need to provide an education suitable to your childs age, aptitude and any special needs.

I HE a 41/2 dd and dd8, we do little formal work but we go on lots of educational days out, read, play games have fun and dd8 is working at KS3 level and dd4 is reading, writing and can do basic maths.

School is not compulsory and it is not the beginning and end of 'education' !

Don't panic!
You can He temporarily until you get the desired place you want, and I bet your dc will be ahead of his peers and certailnly not 'failing further behind'.

Terramum,

I hope you don't mind me stealing from your post!