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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

Primary School Appeals/waiting lists

10 replies

Meeti · 18/04/2008 21:14

My ds was refused a place at his 1st choice school. We are out of catchment and were refused due to infant class size. However ds is 2nd on the waiting list.Ds was placed at our 2nd choice school nearly 2miles away.

Is it worth ringing my LEA every fortnight or monthly to see if anyone has wihdrawn or dropped out?

Also I am appealing although I know its hard to over rule the infant class size restriction. However we have childcare issues if he doesn't get into his 1st choice school.

My husband & I both work FT and I currently use a CM 2-3times a week but she does not do school pick ups at the school we have been allocated. But there is a lack of childminders in the area of the school my ds has been allocated and no one has spaces for a 4yr old.

I am wondering about after school clubs but not sure of them as think he is quite young for an after school club. Although he is used to being around school age children and used to long days.

The school ds has been allocated does have a breakfast club but not for reception class children.

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GrapefruitMoon · 18/04/2008 21:17

Tbh I don't think the childminder issue would be grounds for an appeal... though someone else may come along who knows more.

Why not talk to the school directly and ask them how likely is it that you will get a place - i.e. have places come up in previous years? Certainly at our school it is always worth going on the waiting list because every year children drop out - sometimes over the summer holidays even...

Original poster

Meeti · 18/04/2008 21:35

I thought I'd appeal just to see if it goes anywhere but your probably right GrapefruitMoon.
Thanks for the advice though

I think I will try talking to the school directly as you suggested. At least DS is 2nd on the waiting lists.

I'm not sure if I can put ds name on the waiting list for his 3rd school as well? Although I will have the same problem of finding a different childminder for my catchment school. There are hardly any childminders who do school pick ups at my catchment school- there seems tobe only one and she has no space from Sept.

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GrapefruitMoon · 18/04/2008 21:43

Around here I think you certainly can go on the waiting list for more than one school...

staranise · 19/04/2008 11:57

I'm nineteenth on the waiting list for our first choice and still expect to get in, even if it's by June. I know that number 29th on the list got in last year. MY LEA actually said to me taht if I was 1 or 2 on the lsit I would definitely get in.

It may depend on your area (ours is very built-up, in London, and has high mobility), but we have enormous movement ont he waititng lsits and it's said that if you're in the top 40, you have a chance of getting in. You're also allowed on as many waiting lists as you like and they don't affect each other (ie, if you get a place at one school, you can stay on the list for your oreferred choice). Best of luck!

greenday · 19/04/2008 12:00

My DD was 2nd on the waiting list and she just got in. And this is a school that had the most applications in our area (350+ for 2 classes). So definitely worth waiting and hoping IMO.

Original poster

Meeti · 19/04/2008 18:54

i am going to ring the school on Monday and see how many children got in, in previous years. I think its hopeful he will get in via the waiting list rather than the appeal.

Good luck staranise

Thanks for all your replies

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bringmesunshine · 19/04/2008 19:53

Meeti - it is worth having a look at old treads under scool appeals and suchlike as there is a lot of info. that we found very helpful when we were in your position last year - try searching under unquietdad and smurfs (my old name) for links.

Be very persistent and speak to the LEA on a weekly basis so that your name is recognised. Consider using an appeal company as it is a legal process and you get one shot at it.

We were sucessful by the way

bringmesunshine · 19/04/2008 19:53

Be very persistent and speak to the LEA on a weekly basis so that your name is recognised. Consider using an appeal company as it is a legal process and you get one shot at it.

We were sucessful by the way

Millarkie · 19/04/2008 19:54

I would ring the school occasionally - but do be aware that you can go down the waiting list as well as up! (eg. If people move into the area closer to the school than you are.) Ds started out as 3rd on the list for our local school, in the summer holidays he was down to 18th (people who had been refused places took out rental agreements on properties nearer the school and then reapplied!) .. he started reception at a different school and was offered a place at the first school before Christmas of that year...we turned it down because he had settled at the other school.

Original poster

Meeti · 22/04/2008 18:39

I rang the school yesterday but they told me the LEA was better to contact. She couldn't say how many people have got in, in the past by waiting list!

I didn't realise we could go down the waiting list as well as up! Millarkie!

I will pester my LEA and call them weekly or fortnightly!

I will go off and look at past thread bringmesunshine

I didn't realise I could use an appeal company I already submitted my appeal. They haven't sent back acknowledgement of my appeal yet. They have a backload of over 100 or so!

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