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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

New admission

24 replies

Nurse1980 · 27/04/2023 18:34

Hi,

We have recently moved house. Found a school that can take our two KS1 children. Which hasn’t been easy as all other schools are full in either one of both of their year groups.

The head is saying there is space for them now. But she doesn’t want them to stay until September. Is that normal?

The reason she is giving is that the summer term is busy and that it would be very unsettling for the children to start at this time of year.

It’s a school that does its own admissions.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

alyceflowers · 27/04/2023 18:37

If there's a space and you want it I don't think she can refuse. I'd speak to the LA.

MuffinToSeeHere · 27/04/2023 18:40

She doesn't want your children to start and take the space...erm I'm not sure she actually has much choice. If the school has spaces then she can't actually stop you from taking them. Have you spoken to the LA?

LIZS · 27/04/2023 18:43

Odd. You normally have a limited time to take the place, otherwise someone else might apply and take priority in the meantime.

Pinkflipflop85 · 27/04/2023 18:46

KS1 ...

The cynic in me thinks she doesn't want "unknowns" messing up her phonics screening or Sats results.

Jules912 · 27/04/2023 19:11

That's odd, the opposite it normally more common. They won't hold a place as they get funded per pupil.

Original poster

Nurse1980 · 27/04/2023 19:11

No I haven’t spoken to the LA yet.

She has mentioned the Y2 SATS and an RBA assessment for my reception child?

Its a voluntary aided school if that makes any difference?

OP posts:

Iwasafool · 27/04/2023 19:13

When we moved and DD got a place at this time of year she did part time till the end of the year and started fulltime in September. Would that work? It gave her a chance to make some local friends and to get to know the school gradually.

Ligglepiggle · 27/04/2023 19:15

I moved my DS the last week of summer term. I thought it would get being new out of the way and start with people he knew in September, I wonder if they can only get funding per full term.

Semtee · 27/04/2023 19:17

Jules912 · 27/04/2023 19:11

That's odd, the opposite it normally more common. They won't hold a place as they get funded per pupil.

That's not quite true. Your funding is from how many children you have on census day, it's not allocated at random points whenever a child joins.

PuttingDownRoots · 27/04/2023 19:20

When we moved a couple of years ago the admissions documents said the school was entitled to defer the entry to the start of the next term. Fortunately they didn't... they started a few days after we were offered spaces. (It was April, so it could have been September).

Moving is an upheaval whenever it happens, so the schools argument is pointless

Original poster

Nurse1980 · 27/04/2023 19:21

Yes would be open to that. They have no school at that moment (home educated).

OP posts:

Original poster

Nurse1980 · 28/04/2023 12:11

I rang the LA this morning. Apparently as it’s a voluntary aided school it’s up to them!

OP posts:

lanthanum · 28/04/2023 12:35

Much better for them to start now and make some local friends before the summer holidays. No more unsettling to start now than in September after several months out of school altogether.
I'm surprised if they are really allowed to refuse a space that exists, and it's definitely unusual practice.

LIZS · 28/04/2023 12:38

Agree. I would push for after half term at latest.

LadyLapsang · 28/04/2023 14:30

If you want your children to go to school and the school has vacancies in the correct school years then they should take them now. Have you submitted an in-year application? Remember someone else could move into the area and take those places, they can’t reserve the for you.

LadyLapsang · 28/04/2023 14:31

They can’t hold in-year places for you to join later. Someone else may move into the area and take the places.

MuffinToSeeHere · 28/04/2023 14:34

Nurse1980 · 28/04/2023 12:11

I rang the LA this morning. Apparently as it’s a voluntary aided school it’s up to them!

I'm rusty but I'm not sure this is correct as the school is still an LA school. If someone else moves into the area then you would lose the places between now and September, I suggest ringing back and asking for clarity on this because you could very well end up with no spaces at all.

Lindy2 · 28/04/2023 14:37

That seems crazy. The summer term has just started.

I'm afraid I don't think the Head is suggesting this to be in the best interest of your children. It could well be phonics/SATs related.

How able are your children?

I'd be putting my children's names down on the waiting lists for as many other schools as possible. If 1 gets a place somewhere you may well get sibling priority to get the second child in a bit quicker.

Missing a whole term of school isn't going to help your children and the Head knows that.

viques · 29/04/2023 13:03

Ligglepiggle · 27/04/2023 19:15

I moved my DS the last week of summer term. I thought it would get being new out of the way and start with people he knew in September, I wonder if they can only get funding per full term.

No, they only get funding for the whole year and the child has to be on roll on “counting day”. You can’t port part used funding from one school to another.

I think @Nurse1980 needs to @ some of the school admissions experts and ask what the legal situation is, before someone else pushes hard and snaffles the places from under her nose.

Original poster

Nurse1980 · 29/04/2023 13:26

Hi, thank you for your messages.

The LA must have intervened, as they are starting in two weeks. What a battle!

OP posts:

MuffinToSeeHere · 29/04/2023 13:30

Nurse1980 · 29/04/2023 13:26

Hi, thank you for your messages.

The LA must have intervened, as they are starting in two weeks. What a battle!

That's excellent news!

viques · 29/04/2023 16:57

Glad to hear this, sounds like one of those heads who run a little fiefdom! I would hold back from the PTA (if she allows one) until you have worked out who the friendly people are and who are her spies followers.🙂

ImJustMeSimpleMe · 30/04/2023 06:57

My DC has just had a new child start. This part of the year (after sats) are usually the most relaxed so would think this would be the perfect time to start and get to know the school.

Pinkflipflop85 · 30/04/2023 09:01

ImJustMeSimpleMe · 30/04/2023 06:57

My DC has just had a new child start. This part of the year (after sats) are usually the most relaxed so would think this would be the perfect time to start and get to know the school.

The Sats are May. And if the child is in year 1 there will also be the phonics screening in June.

Summer term in KS1 is never very relaxed!

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