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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

No school placement... in need of advice..

8 replies

Exogenesis · 27/03/2010 16:48

Hello,

Today i have had the letter from the local education authority and my DD has not been offered a place for september at any school.. She is on the waiting list for the schools i selected and the others in the local area but... well I am just abit worried she will end up without a placement or be sent miles away... Anyone else had this problem or haave any advice please

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Runoutofideas · 27/03/2010 17:25

I think all you can do really is wait and see... When does your dd's birthday fall? You may have more time to wait for places to come up if she's young in her year. I had a friend last year who didn't get a place and her son ended up starting in a school she was happy with, but not until after Christmas of the reception year. Also, are you in an area where there is a lot of movement, or where lots of parents with places may chose private schools? If they are able to give you an idea of where you are on the waiting list then that might help you work out how likely a place might be.... Good luck!

Clary · 27/03/2010 18:20

How is this possible?

Sorry but surely they are obliged to offer you a place somewhere? No?

I had a friend who mucked up her application (long story) for secondary so that the LA thought she hadn't applied - but she still got offered a place at a school.

Where are you OP? This is certainly unheard of in our area. Is it because she is young in her year so not obliged to start school? Still, they are obliged to offer her a place the term after she turns 5, surely??

admission · 27/03/2010 21:25

The Local Authority has a legal obligation to offer you a school place, so the first question I would ask is whether your application was in on time. The fact that you have an offical letter suggests to me that you did apply on time.
If it was then the LA should have offered you a place at a school where there were places available, when they refused you the three schools that you had expressed a preference for. This is contained in paragraph 3.15 of the 2010 school admissions code.
I would go back to the LA and ask in writing for an explanation of why you have not been made any offer. I would also ask for confirmation in writing that you are on the waiting list for the three preferences and also the school that is nearest to your house (or the school for which you are in catchment if the admission criteria uses catchments)
One possible explanation is that the LA has a good number of pupils without a place locally and they are currently negotiating with a school to admit more pupils. But they should be open and honest with you that this is the current status.
I think you need to keep nagging the admission office to get things moving.

MrsHappy · 27/03/2010 21:31

It's possible because the LA does not have enough places in total for the applications it receives. The offers go out and the LA then hopes that people move/go private etc and it all sort of comes out in the wash.
No idea what you do if it doesn't, but presumably they would be obliged to put on an extra class somewhere. It's just the uncertainty in the meantime.

Sympathies, btw, I very much expect this to happen to us too.

Clary · 27/03/2010 21:35

Really MrsHappy? I know it happened in Camden (last year?) but surely that was pretty unusual. There was lots of media coverage of it which suggests it was hardly a common event.

In any case if that's what it is, that's awful. Certainly I would contact the LA on Monday an dask what they are going to do about it.

babblington · 27/03/2010 21:49

This happens quite a lot actually. Don't panic! You will get a place. The local authority has to give your child a place, and there will be loads of movement before September. Call the Authority, keep calling, and everything will work out in the end. Happened to several people I know over the last few years all of whom live in 'black holes' and all were resolved before the September start date, difficulties being what to tell your child and when to buy a uniform...which one?!

MrsHappy · 27/03/2010 21:50

Probably (hopefully) not common, no. I think where I live they usually do offer you something in the borough (although I am always shocked by the sheer number of families who receive none of their preferences and also nothing local) but there has historically not been much surplus and you've got to wonder about what will happen this year with so many families unable to go private...

Original poster

Exogenesis · 28/03/2010 10:14

Thank you all.

babblington Yes after the panic and disapointment faded a little I spoke to some of the people with children in my street and its not that uncommen here unfortunatly as we do seem to live in a "blackhole" just outside ANY catchment area.. annoying Yes and its not even as if this is a new housing development or anything.

MrsHappy It sounds like you live in a brough like mine.

Hopefully There is qite a lot of movement. Most of the private schools do quite a roaring trade but people tend to move into the area for schools not out.
I will be ringing first thing monday morning and writing about a million letters as the one they sent is awful. It gave no information of any use and that this morning is what I am pissed off about not the ;ack of offet of a place.

Thank you for all your advice I will keep you updated.

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