Y4 In year admissions for next week, advice/anecdotes please

[mysodapop]

Opinions please:

Waiting for an in-year admission place for next week for Y4. Applied to 2 nearest schools, first choice under the exceptional social/medical criteria (bereavement, kinship care, but no Looked After Child status as family took in). Can only apply under this to one school.

Child has not currently got a place for next week. Is number one on the waiting list for first choice and nearest school under exceptional social need criteria, number three for second choice school. Council are apparently waiting to hear from next nearest school (not very near, not very suitable) as to whether they could offer a place now.

Should I hold my nerve for next week? How likely is it do you think that she will get offered a place at first choice school, in year admissions, at number one on waiting list for a one form entry school?

Or second choice school, 2 form entry, number 3 on list?

What happens is she has no school next week? or I decline a last minute place that they might come up with at third nearest or some other random school? How long can I keep her at home after the term officially starts to wait to see if someone doesn't turn up at first choice school? How likely is this?

@mysodapop Did you not speak to SA about this? See attached.

It doesn't cover those in Kinship care, major error we all think but unfortunately that's what it is

@Lightuptheroom Is not “living with family” the same if agreed by SS?

The key wording is 'can include' rather than 'must include' ... The family one normally relates to a special guardianship order. Unfortunately much of the time family fostering is registered as as a private fostering arrangement and therefore the child isn't LAC. It's a horrible system but that's what the process is.

I hope there is a starting date soon for your niece.

Yep, as above - we are merely family/kinship carers so get no LAC status, no assitance and no financial support. So far I have only done a Child Arrangements Order to gain Parental Responsibility. I could go for a Special Guardianship Order I believe but I believe then any funding is means testing and linked to UC. This charity are doing great work on trying to get kinship careres similar status to foster carers: https://kinship.org.uk/our-work-and-impact/news/kinship-care-and-the-childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill/#definition-of-kinship-care

Anyway, we have a start dat of a week on Monday!

I'm glad you have a start date @mysodapop and at least you have chance to get uniform sorted etc. But bloody hell that's 3 weeks missed and seemingly could have been sorted sooner had everything gone through properly in July.
But good news at least. Good luck I hope your niece settles in quickly and finds some nice friends. Not everyone is cut out to step up like you and your family have.

Hope today went well!

You can ask for full foster support, i someone who has recently done this taking in their niece, council did not offer, they had to ask and they did get, older child with lots of issues due to previous home life and needed that extra support

Thanks both, yes first day went relaly well thankfully, she seemed to really like the school and came back saying she'd made friends. Very relieved.

That's good news I hope it continues and you can all get on with what's ahead.x