March 1st - How much time is given to accept the offer you are give?

[mumwithtwokids]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can help. We currently have a family emergency which means that it's likely we won't be around come offers day.

I've just called my LEA to advise of the situation and ask how much time is given to accept the offer you are given but they won't tell me - apparently I need to call nearer the time . I've got so much on my plate at the moment so if anyone can advise I would be extremely grateful.

x

Thanks CustardCake - Don't understand why he couldn't just tell me how much time is given to reply.

I advised that we would more than likely be out of the country to which he responded 'that's OK as we also send out a copy in the post'. HELLO, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME!

Could you arrange for a friend to collect your post, call you and then reply on your behalf?

Hi Jasminerice - Unfortunately all my friends live on the other side of London so this is not feasible. I think I'm going to call the school and see what they say.

Hi all - I've just spoken to the school and they told me not to worry as if we are out of the country they can deal with it for us.

If you applied online I think you will be able to accept online.

As I understand it, it is important to accept the place you are given, but that if this is not your first choice the really important thing is to get your name on the waiting list for your first and any other higher preferences than the offer you have.

And that accepting the offer does not disadvantage your position on the waiting lists of schools you prefer.

So if you think you will not be offered one of your top preferences you also need to know how soon you need to place yourself on the waiting list for higher preferences. Presumably immediately, in case others turn places down straight away. And to find a way to do this from abroad. Maybe you can do that online too.

Sorry you are having to deal with this in the middle of an emergency

I think it was two weeks, but I couldn't be sure. I echo Blu's advice - if you don't get a school that you are happy with, then you need to get onto waiting lists.

Surely there are contingency plans for letting parents know in the event of an emergency - by email or something.

Thanks all - we did apply online however I don't think we'll have internet access and the nearest town is a bit of a drive.

When I spoke to the LEA he advised that we would have to call nearer the time and see if our acceptance period could be extended - I'm still really angry about this as it's not as if I was calling to try and find out the result early. All I wanted to know was how much time is given but he couldn't even answer that!

Sorry for the rant but unfortunately everything is a bit too much to deal with at the mo :(

It sounds very hard.

Do you think you will get a place at a school you are happy with?

I wonder if your primary head would deal with it for you? If you gave her/him your login details?

Also, if you can do it on line a friend the other side of London could do it with your log in details?

I just think that if you are doubtful of getting an offer you are happy with the really urgent thing you will need to do is put your name on the waiting list for all schools higher up your list.

Hi Blu - yes, I called the school today and they told me not to worry as if we are out of the country they can deal with it which is a big relief. Apparently they get the list at roughly the same time as us finding out so at least we won't have to worry about loggin in.

I don't know what school we'll get offered but we'll have to accept and then deal with it when we get back.

I was just thinking what Blu suggested.

That sounds like the simplest way to find out what you have been offered, then you can make a plan if necessary and get onto it when you get the chance.

Good Luck and I hope your emergency goes as well as it can.

Not all LAs automatically put you on waiting lists, so you need to check what your LA does.
As others have said it is usually a two week period to accept or decline the offer. However what nobody at the LA seems to be wanting to tell you is that under the current admission regulations they cannot just remove your offer if you do not reply in the specified time. Paragraph 1.50 states that If a parent has not responded to an 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.
That is not to say some LAs will not try it on and withdraw places but that is the law.
You also need to understand that the school do not do the administration for place allocation it is the LA and you need to sort this out with the LA admission office not the school to be sure that it has been done properly.