School place dilemma

[MummyGoingtoMove]

Have name changed as slight concerns on anonymity which is important here.

DD is an a school with mixed nursery/reception class. Due to start reception in September and depending on birthday, children start nursery at times from January onwards.

Between applying and finding out places we have decided to move house due to DH new job. We have been given a place in reception for where we are now.

Other parents haven't. One mum at nursery pickup today very not happy - there is no sibling preference and despite having a sibling her DC hasn't got a place. Am pretty sure a few children haven't got in.

I will be accepting the place as until everything has gone through I do not want to be in the position of no school place, as can't apply for new achool until we have proof of address there. But feel bad that people haven't got places when I will almost certainly be freeing one up.

Don't want to make it publicly known knowledge about our move tbh although some people do know. Can see it will probably leak out a bit, but given other mum's fury at pick up (headteacher came and asked her to come in to discuss) wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her.

Has anyone else been in this situation?

Don't let yourself be browbeaten by the other mums. You didn't write the school's admissions criteria.

How far are you moving? If it's far enough that commuting back to this school is not an option, I don't really see the point of hanging on to the place.

You can get on waiting lists for schools in the new area now, but assuming they are some distance away you'll be near the bottom of the waiting list - you'll move up once you have a confirmed address in the area.

Even if you gave up your place right now, there's no guarantee that the angry mum will get it, so there's no direct link.

If anyone asks, just say calmly, yes we may be moving but it's not settled yet. If we move and take a place at the new address then we'll release this place. But we're not doing anything till it's all settled just in case there are problems.

Keep your place until your move happens

Just don't do what a friend did; that is no go to any induction events.
She then got cross when the head asked if she was leaving as people were desperate for the place. She didn't seem to see that by not attending she was sending the message her child wasn't going to take their place. As long as its not definite I would act as if it might not happen, do induction etc. Then when it becomes firm, warn child and tell the school.

I hope everything goes well.

Our LEA has no problem if you move between offer date and start of school. If yours is the same, you can move and have done nothing untoward so I wouldn't worry too much.

also imo its nobodys (other parents) business where you live. You have to look after your own child first.

Good luck

Until you have actually exchanged contracts on a house you don't know how anything will pan out, so of course you need to accept the place. I would however, be reasonably 'cagey' about your moving plans!

bearing in mind you no fixed date for the move yet, and these things always seem to "slip" anyway then of course you should keep the place.

If anyone asks I would just politely say that although it's none of their business, yes you might be moving in the next few months, but as nothing is definite yet then the current plan is your DC starts here in Sept.

As you said yourself, you can't apply for a new school anyway, until you have confirmation of your new address and you don't want your DC to be without a school place.

Don't beat yourself up, EVERYONE would do the same in your shoes, it isn't your "fault" other DC haven't got a place.

Thank you everyone .

We are moving 160 miles away so definitely not possible to stay at the school .

As it is a mixed nursery/reception class there won't be an induction as DD would have just changed from "mornings" to "all day".

We are going to be renting in the new area so that end will be easier than if we were buying. The school we are hoping to go to has 6 spare reception places at the moment and so we feel pretty hopeful there.

If things go to plan we should be moving in the next couple of months and so whoever is at the top of the waiting list will get a place. DD's current teacher knows about the move (our sold sign is quite obvious) but I don't think it is known throughout the whole school yet.

Thank you again for reassurance (moving was easier before the DC were at school )

There is nothing that says you have to give the place up until as such time as you withdraw your child from the school. Having your house up for sale means nothing to others - you could be moving locally.

When you have a definite date for a move and a place to rent then is the time to inform the school that you will be withdrawing your child from an agreed date, not before.

I was MummyGoingtoMove - am now Mummy going to move in 11 days time .

We exchanged about a week ago and I let the school know last Friday. They are going to let the LEA know and so whoever was top of the waiting list will get our place .

I would get the estate agents to take down the 'sold' sign, you'll only get more questions if it stays up.

No one has asked any questions really - anyway as it is DS and DD's last day of school tomorrow I think they will find it hard to miss