How to chose school nursery for 3 year old

[MCMP13]

I want my child to go to a Primary school that is 0.7 miles from our house however we are in the catchment for another school which is 0.5 miles from our house. I have looked at if the schools are oversubscribed and the criteria for spaces etc but it really comes down to how many people apply that year and no one can know that.

My 3 year old will be in nursery for 2 years as he is a September baby. What have people done in this situation before? I don’t know if I should I send him to the nursery of the school that I want him to go to, the one that is 0.7 miles away but not in my catchment area or just send to the school nursery that is in catchment area and he will get a space in.

I really wanted him to attend nursery of the school that he will attend and I’m not sure if I should take the risk and have to move him in 2 years time if he doesn’t get into the school that we want.

Send him to the nursery you like most.

Have you checked what the school do RE admissions. If he's a sept baby he won't be eligible till the January and not all schools do a Jan intake. It might be best to hold out for a school that will (if you need the place early), yiu may not get the choice if you see what I mean.

Children are pretty adaptable though so I wouldn't worry if you have to move him after his nursery year.

Yeah he can start both after he turns 3.

Is it common for people to not apply to the school in their catchment area and take the risk?

Not all children go their schools nursery, so he won't be the only one.

What are you meaning by catchment... is it a defined area on the map, or just the usual distance children are admitted from?

Pick the nursery you like. Don't worry about changing schools at reception age. Kids at that age forget their BBF (which is usually based on parents arranging playdates rather than their choice at this age to be honest) and move on easily.

Just make sure you pick a school your child can grow into. A school that is wonderful for EYF may not be as fabulous for KS2 (and vice versa). You find this a lot with 1 form entry. 1 form are lovely when small and 2 and 3 form can feel overwhelming but by KS2 this can all flip.

If all things are equal and you like both nursery schools maybe go with the closet and the one you are most likely to get into. This will help you understand the school better and maybe you will be so impressed you will be happy to go there!

Very common. I did. There is no risk. You just apply directly for a nursery place and you either get offered one or don't. Schools don't care. They just offer based on their acceptance criteria.
Ditto for reception you just list your choices in order, send off the local authority, and are offered an available place in that order. If you don't get your first choice you go on a waiting list for that school.

Sorry I meant the risk of him not getting a place in that school for reception.

He has been offered a place for both nursery’s already for after he turns 3.

Is this a private school or state? If private then that is probably true, but then you wouldn't be talking about catchment and distance from home, so I think it is state.

You need to understand the process for applying to a state school for reception. It is via the local authority not the school. Nursery places have absolutely no relevance.

The criteria for getting a place in reception will be on the schools website. It is usually be along the lines of looked after/Sen children, (proof of worship if it's a faith school), siblings, then distance from home.

Some schools are stipulating that distance from the school (living in their catchment) takes priority over the sibling rule. This is to stop people getting their first born in then moving far away and taking places for future siblings. This is mainly seen in secondary education admissions. Maybe check this if you are planning on having more children and want them to all go to the same school.

Unlike in secondary school, where there may be feeder school priority, there aren't any feeder schools at state reception level as this is the start of formal education. Nursery schools are not feeder schools and have no influence on being offered a place.

Thanks for your reply. It is a state school and I do understand the admissions criteria as I said in the original post. I was just curious to see what other parents have done when they prefer a school that is not their catchment area school.

You could look on the council’s website for cases were allocated the previous year and that will give you some idea whether you have a chance.

From my experience with the school where I’m a governor, nursery places are easy to get because the school doesn’t do breakfast and after school provision for nursery children.