Forgotten to return form accepting DDs primary school place. Help.

[EmmalinaC]

I have just realised to my utter devastation that the form accepting DD1s primary school place should have been returned by 9th April.

Obviously I will call the EA first thing tomorrow but right now I am on the verge of hysteria. I can't believe I have let her down over something so important.

Waiting list places are not given out until 26th April so presumably they are still allocating places.

Does anyone know what's likely to happen? I can't be the first idiot in the world to do this. Anyone work for an education authority?!

I don't think I'm going to get any sleep tonight.

Oh no! Last year we didn't get any of our choices, so were on waiting lists etc - but for the first couple of weeks the council weren't able to tell us anything as they were chasing up the people who hadn't returned their acceptance forms - so it sounded like they give people a couple of weeks' grace. Hope that's the case for you!

OK did the form have to go to the school? If so then I'm guessing it's been the school holidays and nothing has been done with forms yet anyway.

With a bit of luck you can call them first thing and get it all sorted!

I'm sure when DS had his place allocated that if you didn't return it then they assumed you had accepted the place - it was only if you didn't want to accept it that you needed to decline it.

It should have gone to the local authority. Or I could've done it on line. Just by clicking a box. I am distraught.

I've just checked - I definitely had to accept. It's London Borough of Sutton.

You are not the first person to do this...another mumsnetter did it last week! I sugested they phone on monday morning, to double check the letter was recieved.

I think they presume you are going to accept the place, so it's probably only if you decline they will whisk the place away.

LynetteScavo's suggestion is a brilliant one - and it makes me think that they must chase up anyone they haven't heard from after a couple of weeks because things can get lost in the post. I'm sure you'll be fine, try not to worry too much tonight!

Thank you wise ladies of Mumsnet. I will try Lynette's approach in the morning. You have given me just enough hope to try to get some sleep...

EmmalinaC I have done exactly the same thing should have replied by last Friday, woke up in shock in the middle of last night!! "Effing hell forgotten to confirm place" am going to call them tomorrow and ask if they have received my letter

Just in case you get any grief (you shouldn't) the Schools Admissions code says

"Withdrawing offers of places
1.50 Once an offer of a school place has been
made it is only reasonable for an admission
authority to withdraw that offer in very limited circumstances. These may include when a parent has failed to respond to an offer within a reasonable time ........If a parent has not responded to the offer of a place within a reasonable time, the admission authority must remind the parent of the need to respond within a further seven days and point out that the place may be withdrawn if they do not. "

So as long as you've not ignored a reminder you should be fine

You should be OK. Whilst the LA want to get the forms back with yes or no to accept on them, the school admission code paragraph 1.50 says that the admission authority must remind the parent of the need to respond within a further 7 days and point out that the place may be withdrawn if they do not.

Unless you have had a reminder the admission authority would be guilty of maladministration if they removed the place. So just confirm on Monday with the LA.

We didn't have to return a form at all - I don't think (wibbles).

Mind you we only put one school down for DS1 and for DS2 (he's moving to juniors). And we were offered it. So I guess they are assuming we are keen

OP I am sure it will be OK.

We moved recently, dd1 starts secondary school in Sept so applied for a place here and also where we moved from just in case. For some reason the post office didn't forward the offer letter from our old local authority to us, but a couple of weeks later I got one asking if we were accepting the place. So, I'm fairly sure that all isn't lost.

God you must have been really desperate for a place at that school.....

At our school, if you do not respond by the due date, you are scrubbed and in the event of a query you need to be able to provide proof of delivery.

Why should you be given preference over someone who may possibly be on tenterhooks waiting for a place.

Sorry, but you messed up totally ffucked up

Oh no
I very nearly forgot to return mine last year, just so much going on, but luckily they chased us up

Hope you are ok and get the place- it looks like you might be, especially as the schools have been on holiday

Well, after a terrible night (either awake and worrying or asleep dreaming I had mislaid my daughters), I called the education authority at 8.30 this morning and they were really helpful.

The lady at the call centre couldn't check whether or not they had received my acceptance but told me I didn't need to worry - they don't just give away places. They write to parents again and again until they respond. She said I should be getting the first of these letters any day now! I will be sure to send it back to them sharpish!

I was so relieved I burst into tears.

Now I am so happy I could sing

RedTartanLass I'm sure you'll find the same thing where you live. Got my fingers crossed for you. Let us know how you get on.

What a relief!

Clary,
No I do not do this for a living, I sit and chair admission appeal panels, but i am beginning to think that I could make a living out of it!

Whew when I checked the form actually has to be in tomorrow, so I've emailed it off today! One less thing to worry about!