In year school admissions

[CheeryPlumPlayer]

I moved my kids out of a school because my daughter was being bullied. My son was happy at the school but was forced to move because of me. Now he's extremely unhappy.

Yes it's all my fault and I feel.guilty. so I messaged admissions and explained to them that I was unable to process an in year transfer online due to the system not working. They replied back after 10 days saying, "I need to apply online" so no help.

I decided to open up a new portal, seemed to work, added all my kids on it and was able to apply for an in year transfer for my son back to his old school where he was happy.

The application so far has taken too long, as I still haven't heard back from the emails I sent out, which was two, more than 15 days ago now.

I've applied for schools many time and it's always been easy and straightforward but this time it seems to be slow. Almost as though my new account I created is lost in limbo. So far it's been 21 days and I was told 15 days.

No matter how much I email [they don't give the option to ring] I get through to nobody.

I'm unsure whether there's any spaces left now, and I'm also unsure whether they'll let my son back without my daughter. No one was excluded and left positive, we live walking distance to school and meet the criteria as my kids went there previously from reception to year 2.

Shall I give it and apply for another school?

Who have you been contacting? Your LEA? If not, I'd find the number for them and give them a ring. If your son was happy at that school then I'd try and get him back into it. Are they both at a different school now or are you homeschooling?

Do you still have a good relationship at the school? If so, I'd ask the office informally if they have 30 or fewer at the moment in the class (or ask the mums in the class). That will give you a good hint I would think - if there are 30, or whatever the maximum number is, surely it's a no. Whereas if they are decently under, then there is a good chance they will take your son back. Good luck!

If the school has a place in your sons year and no one else is currently on the waiting list with a higher priority than you, then he will be offered the place no matter what your previous history is with the school.

Is it 15 school days rather than calendar days? Have you made it clear homeschooling is not an option?

Was there any kind of automated acknowledgment of your in year transfer application with eg a reference number and date? If you log back into the portal is there any status message eg received or processing?

Thank you all for your messages, I didn't get an email aknowlegment, but somebody suggested I log in and check the status, I just did that (not sure why i didn't do that to begin with) and I'm surprised there is an application there for my son, the status is, preference 1: (A Place Has Been Requested At This School) and then when I click on view admissions, it says appeal submission period (states dates), response (blank) status: A Place Has Been Requested At This School. And that's all.

I'm assuming it's a good sign?

At least there is an application even if admissions has not responded yet.

They are both in a school so I can assume admissions don't mind moving slowly because it's not classed as urgent maybe?

It's good to hear that regardless of my son previously going there, he should still be given admission :) he was never excluded, 100attendence, good behaviour, always did his homework and got along with his class friends.

I have contacted the school also, I was told there are places but she can't guarantee it, as she will have to see waiting list first and can't discuss it with me yet as she's not 100 percent certain.

I will be patient and hope I get a reply or better yet a response from the admissions team.

It's good to hear that regardless of my son previously going there, he should still be given admission :) he was never excluded, 100attendence, good behaviour, always did his homework and got along with his class friends

If there is a space and he is top of the waiting list, most of the above aren’t relevant (an exclusion might be).

I am slightly confused. You withdrew both children from school A. They are now in education in school B (you mention them being in school)? You now have applied for another in-year move for your son back to school A. Is that correct?

Did you check with the school if you can make a direct application? Lots of areas you can make a direct application to the school for an inyear admission xx

Unfortunately, the school do not deal with applications, only the LA admissions team deal with it. It does state this on the website too.

I've spoke to the school on the phone and there doesn't seem to be an issue why he can't come back, but just that she can't comment on it as admissions will deal with the application.

I'm just waiting patiently now, and tbf I'm just relieved my application has gone through according to the online portal.

Will update with an update once I hear back

And yes, I moved both kids thinking it's the normal thing to do? but son hates new school, daughter has made friends already one being a girl who lives around the corner from us and they're "besties" already I've tried to get him to try and be positive but at the end of the day it's not me going to school for 6 years in primary school is it? It's my kids and if they tell me they don't feel they are liking it, I will listen and do what's right by them.

He is a smart and kind kid, I'm proud of him. So for him to tell me he hates it and crys because older kid keeps kicking the ball on his back or he sits lunch time on his own I'm going to move him. Even if it sounds over the top. Either that or my husband will smack a ball on the kids dad's head or ill be approaching the kids mum... no to all of that.

Will.uodate hopefully next week or the week after

Thanks everyone

Your previous relationship with the school has nothing to do with your son being offered a place or not (unless he displayed particularly challenging behaviour or was suspended numerous times or was permanently excluded, all of which you would obviously know)
Your in year admission application will be sent by an admissions officer to your preference, then the admissions officer has to wait for the school to say they will offer a space and have no objections (as above, there are very few things they can use as objections) As your son is already 'placed' in school and you haven't moved house etc, then it will depend on where he would sit on their waiting list on their admissions criteria (slightly different process if 'unplaced' due to you moving into a new area) if he would be top, then you will be offered a the place, if not he'll be placed on the waiting list. You can also state that you would accept an alternative. You'll receive a letter (usually attached to an email) giving you the answer. If its a popular school then they may be oversubscribed, the school can't tell you if they definitely have space as the local authority will be receiving applications all the time for children with no allocated school place, looked after children, children with EHCP's etc who are a higher 'priority'
You should ring the admissions team at your local authority if you want to know the progress, they should have a number on their website even if its only a 'duty line'
Do be aware that the statutory round for primary school admissions only closed last week so they will be rushed off their feet (not an excuse but it does slow the systems down a lot)