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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.

Original poster

Primary admission

27 replies

Lala294 · 01/12/2024 18:35

Hi. Wondered if someone can help. I’m currently in a process of buying a house but it won’t complete in time for the deadline for school admission to primary - 15th Jan. I am currently living in Airbnb as I am homeless. House from Wdh supposed to complete before Xmas but now, it doesn’t look like it. We have delays and for the time being I’m stuck in Airbnb. How I can choose schools if I have no address ? Does anyone know how Wakefield council look at it?

OP posts:
May146 · 01/12/2024 18:51

There is a second deadline in the event of house moves but it’s about the 8th February. Gives you a bit more time if it’s close to completing. If not I think you can apply if you have exchanged contracts.

ShipToNoveltle · 01/12/2024 19:14

I would contact Wakefield council and explain your situation that you are currently homeless whilst awaiting your house purchase to complete. Ask their advice. Is the school oversubscribed?

I would also tell your solicitor how important it is that this sale be pushed through as fast as possible. Everything will shut down over Christmas and New Year when lots of people are off work so push as much as you can now.

Original poster
Lala294 · 01/12/2024 19:43

@May146 thank you. This sounds good but what if it won’t complete until then ? It looks like the delay may take few more weeks I’ve been told. I’m afraid to leave it until the last minute and I can’t really look for any other accommodations in the meantime ie rent as this would be 6 months contract 😳

OP posts:
Original poster
Lala294 · 01/12/2024 19:46

@ShipToNoveltle ive no idea if school is oversubscribed as I haven’t even looked at it yet as I don’t know which area to look for 😢 everyone Wdh and solicitors are aware about the situation and advised they will do all they can but these are just empty promises. I feel like I’m stuck and don’t know what to do 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
LIZS · 01/12/2024 19:49

Surely you can have a list for the new house at least prepared. If you are definitely going to move there you can still list them, update your address if within that window and go on waiting lists if necessary.

TicketyBoo11 · 01/12/2024 19:56

School admissions will look at applications 6 weeks before a start date. You won’t get a school tour before Christmas now so trawl the internet, have a look at the school websites, read the Ofsted reports. Make a virtual shortlist, ring the schools you’re interested in (they won’t confirm availability unless they are oversubscribed and then they should tell you straight away. Don’t panic…easy to say I know but schools can turn admissions round really quick if they need to..

ShipToNoveltle · 01/12/2024 20:23

If the house you are buying was on Rightmove scroll down the Rightmove page below the map and it has nearest train stations and a tab next to that for schools. It tells you the nearest schools and then you look at those. Some might be faith schools and you need to decide which one best fits your child and your values. Some are secondaries as it doesn't distinguish between secondary and primaries and you can look at the link provided by @TicketyBoo11 and read up on them.

You can start a new thread on here and give a rough idea of area asking for primary recommendations if you are not local to where you are moving to.

Original poster
Lala294 · 01/12/2024 20:39

Yes I have had a read thru the Wakefield admissions website and all I can see is that I should use the child permanent address at the time of application which is 15th Jan but I’m afraid I might not get the permanent address by then.. so I just don’t know what to put on application. I know I can make some amendments after and put down any school I want but I’m not sure if I move until their final deadline which I believe is feb and then I’m at risk of these schools near my future home being withdrawn ? And then what happens? The only thing I care about is that the school has wraparound child care and breakfast clubs so I can work full time as I am now. If I get the school chosen withdrawn last minute then will I get one randomly allocated that may not have school clubs ?

OP posts:
LIZS · 01/12/2024 20:51

If you have not moved you would use your current address. That may mean you get none of the preferred schools on allocations day, unless one is undersubscribed, but get another in the area, if so you can still go on waiting lists after allocations day using your new address,

Sneakybusiness · 02/12/2024 03:08

You need to put the address of where you currently live, which is your Airbnb. You update the council when you move into your new house. If it’s is past the feb deadline when you move then you may not get you first choice and yes, you may get a random school in the area.

If that happens you will need to put your child on the waiting list and hope there is some movement so a a space becomes available.

You should make sure you have researched the other schools in the area and their wrap around care options so you have a second choice.

Original poster
Lala294 · 02/12/2024 06:21

If I’m at risk of random school being allocated then I have no other choice than just give up on house I’m buying and just go rent. I will loose job straight away if I cannot accommodate the hours and waiting on a waiting list will take ages. Thanks all for comments.

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/12/2024 07:45

Presumably most of then paperwork is done or in motion so the move may not be far away . Check whether you can evidence the address by exchange before the extended deadline, rather than completion. It also may give you some leverage to chase the vendor to exchange. I am assuming you are looking for Reception entry for September 2025, otherwise the January deadline is irrelevant anyway.

Original poster
Lala294 · 02/12/2024 07:50

No I’m looking for primary school and their deadline is 15th January. Wdh doesn’t want to exchange until everything is completed

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/12/2024 07:56

So not for Reception? Unless it is a year3 transfer area, it would be In Year application with no formal deadlines.

LIZS · 02/12/2024 08:10

Can see it also applies for junior schools in Wakefield, However it looks like you have a window until February 14th to update an application and, if only the address, 1st March and it still be considered on-time. You should still submit initially in January though using your address at that time. Surely you would have completed by end February. You need a solicitor's letter with the confirmed completion date, but it is not clear at what point you supply it so worth asking LA.

Original poster
Lala294 · 02/12/2024 08:51

its a transfer from year 2 onto primary school to year 3. The problem is that my mortgage expire beginning of feb and when I approached the lender they said they’re not likely to extend so if the house won’t complete until then, I will end up nowhere at all. And will have to look for something to rent and nowadays it’s hard. Wdh said they’re trying to do the best they can but the house is new built and the issue seem to be more complex.

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/12/2024 09:02

Are you also looking for a year 2 place ?

Britanix · 02/12/2024 09:07

Sorry your in this situation this was me last year . We were finally meant to be moving in July and it all fell through after all that waiting.

So I had to start my son in our lovely local primary school and we are due to move next week- I'm devastated at moving him. I've applied via council for local schools, but also have a place in a private school if needs must .

I really hope it works out for you it's awful. Where I'm moving the late applications is March so double check x

Witsend101 · 02/12/2024 09:13

I think the deadline for January usually only applies to Reception places. For other years you can usually do an in year transfer.

Original poster
Lala294 · 02/12/2024 09:34

@LIZS no I’m only looking for one place which is year 2 transfer to year 3

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/12/2024 09:37

So will your dc stay wherever they are now until September?

Soontobe60 · 02/12/2024 09:43

Lala294 · 02/12/2024 09:34

@LIZS no I’m only looking for one place which is year 2 transfer to year 3

So this is an in year admission. You can apply for these at any time, there isnt a deadline, unless its moving from an Infant school to a Junior school?

Original poster
Lala294 · 02/12/2024 10:05

Yes he’s moving from infant school to junior school. I have contacted Wakefield admissions and they’ve said deadline is 15th Jan and I can then change the address up until 1st match but I cannot change my school preferences after 15th Jan which means if the house won’t go thru then I’m stuck with the choice I have made up to 15th Jan. Which is ok however the problems is, if I won’t get the house I’m buying idk where I end up living which means if I find rent outside of catchment area then I don’t have much chance to get the schools I have applied for and I will get one that have spaces left and that one may not have the wraparound childcare and I’ll have issues with work. I know I can look for rent near the school I have applied for but I’ll be very time limited to do this until 1st March and I’ll have to take whatever comes first wherever it is…

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/12/2024 10:44

Surely if the allocated school does not have wraparound care you look for an off site provider or childminder instead. Are all the schools with wraparound care usually oversubscribed? If you can find one that is not and include it, hopefully that is at least a back up,