Logistics for a family move re school

chelseablue

Brighty wrote: »

We already owned the house we were moving to (was our rental property). We were told that proof of ownership was irrelevant, they wanted proof of residency before they'd allocate a place, "ownership doesn't prove anything, anyone can own any number of properties, it doesn't mean they live there" was what they said to us.

The whole thing was an absolute nightmare. We decided to move back in Feb, a few weeks after the reception place application deadline.

Our plan was to move in the summer hols so kids could finish out the year at nursery.

Contacted admissions at new town, told them the situation and they said to apply through them and they'd process us with everyone else, which we did.

They then changed their mind and said as we were still living in old town, we needed to apply through them instead, which we did.

Fast forward to April and when everyone else got their letters, we got nothing. Phoned them up to be told "oh, we've done nothing with your application as you don't live here yet, you need to wait till you've moved and then submit an in year application and go on the waiting lists". Fuming

I explained we owned the house and planned to move in summer and we got the "ownership is irrelevant" bit.

So, we brought the move forward, took the kids out of nursery, and off we went.

Of course there were no nursery places anywhere for that last half term, so both kids had no where to go from beginning of June till a couple of weeks ago.

We chose our 3 schools and were allocated our 3rd choice just before summer hols, not ideal as we live in a different secondary school catchment to most of the other kids that will go to that primary, so our kids would lose all their friends when they transfer.

Then, during summer, it was announced that the council were closing the road between where we live and the school, for 6 months, possibly permanently. The long diversion would be a nightmare of traffic, its bad now, with the closure it will be chaos and they'd be no way to get my son through it all to school and then back again to near home in 30mins to get daughter to her nursery.

So we rang up admissions and got the lad put back on the waiting list for our first and second choice schools, but were told we wouldn't hear till the schools went back as each school manages their own waiting list.

Thankfully, first week back and we got a call offering a place at our second choice and he could start reception the following week with all the other reception kids.

Phew, sorted, only took 7 month to sort out, but now all good and he's happy at his first school

Brighty

Just being nosy Brighty, do you live in Berkshire?
As the same thing is happening near me

Jhoney_2

LittleMax wrote: »

You never know - don't forget you will be leaving a place in an outstanding school in your old area. Even if there are people on the waiting list, sometimes when they are then contacted their children have settled and suddenly that becomes an outstanding school with a place.

BTW - are you sure you can only apply online - that sounds like the application process for children starting primary of secondary in September. You can't apply unless you know which schools have places - I would phone them and askB.

Despite the auto reply sent earlier, they have in fact emailed again to say "there are no Y1 places available and I can place my child on the waiting list for any of the schools":)

Pretty sure regarding online only, yes. Not via the CAF, but a form on the new area LA website which appears to need registration with a new area address - unless they say differently at some point.
Hopefully they will reply again advising of how in my scenario I can do that to their satisfaction from here.

I will also try calling tomorrow morning, but written information is at least a record, should I be misinformed etc - also, it was from the 'admissions team' so hopefully more reliable than reception/conversational information.

That's the thing, i'm giving up a lot to move educationally, and it cannot be at the mercy of getting there and it's just the not very good schools left. I would simply choose not to move yet and make that work for the time being.

LittleMax

Jhoney wrote: »

Despite the auto reply sent earlier, they have in fact emailed again to say "there are no Y1 places available and I can place my child on the waiting list for any of the schools":)

So would be interesting to know what happens if you move into the area next week - they would have to go over the numbers in one of the schools as they have a duty to offer you a place. I wonder how they would determine which school it would be. Maybe a question to ask.

Jhoney_2

I'm hoping that would then default to our preference, but interesting as you say.

I will ask that specifically and post here.

No reply today so will keep at it - seeing as how they do actually read the emails despite the auto reply.

silvercar

LittleMax wrote: »

So would be interesting to know what happens if you move into the area next week - they would have to go over the numbers in one of the schools as they have a duty to offer you a place. I wonder how they would determine which school it would be. Maybe a question to ask.

More than likely they will offer you a place at the nearest school with a space. If that school is more than 2 miles (3 miles for over 8s) from your home then they will provide transport to and from school.

tomtontom

silvercar wrote: »

More than likely they will offer you a place at the nearest school with a space. If that school is more than 2 miles (3 miles for over 8s) from your home then they will provide transport to and from school.

Indeed, infant class size regulations apply and the LA cannot simply add a place where capacity has been reached.

OP, the admissions team are the people you need to be speaking to - unless the school is outside LA control they manage the admissions process. It might help you to request the most recent admissions statistics for the schools you are interested in, to give you an idea of waiting lists, how close people need to live to stand a chance of getting a place - keep in mind that being in catchment may not be enough.

Also worth mentioning that many secondaries no longer have feeder primary schools, you apply afresh in year six according to distance, siblings etc.

Jhoney_2

tomtontom wrote: »

Indeed, infant class size regulations apply and the LA cannot simply add a place where capacity has been reached.

OP, the admissions team are the people you need to be speaking to - unless the school is outside LA control they manage the admissions process. It might help you to request the most recent admissions statistics for the schools you are interested in, to give you an idea of waiting lists, how close people need to live to stand a chance of getting a place - keep in mind that being in catchment may not be enough.

Also worth mentioning that many secondaries no longer have feeder primary schools, you apply afresh in year six according to distance, siblings etc.

Yes it's the admissions team that I received the additional unexpected human response from - still awaiting the reply to my follow up email re the waiting list process.

I have downloaded stats for 2014/15 re distances - and I intend to look at them in more detail over the weekend hopefully.

I have heard and read that a few places are sometimes 'held back' for what type of reasons I do not know? Will be looking into that as well, but i'm assuming that even so, that would be the CAF entry system so not pinning my own hopes on it - just curious to learn by chasing up all the information I gather.

My understanding currently is that they can indeed surpass the the class size for that specific reason. I doubt 'no Y1 places anywhere' counts in the same way - and perhaps rightly so.

This may not be nationally but as it is your average state school, it may well be the case.

My speculation is that this would apply to a twin/triplet type situation FWIW, but I will post back with what I hear or learn as it's only a hunch at this time.


@ Silvercar

This may be the result of their offer, but one I would have to decline. It would be reassuring to know that I wouldn't have to have given up what is in place currently to learn that news though.

Will keep the thread updated and again thanks to all of you.:beer:

mrsmazza

That 3 mile rule is as the crow flies. Not if you take the public roads. Bizarre !!

tomtontom

They don't hold back places. The exceptions to the ICS rule are twins, cared for children and those with a statement that specifies that school - this is the law, not something the local authority can choose to vary. An appeals panel can also grant a place, but there would need to be very strong grounds - in two years of sitting on panels I have allowed one ICS appeal.

It is refreshing to see someone doing their research, you'd be surprised how many do none!

Jhoney_2

tomtontom wrote: »

They don't hold back places. The exceptions to the ICS rule are twins, cared for children and those with a statement that specifies that school - this is the law, not something the local authority can choose to vary. An appeals panel can also grant a place, but there would need to be very strong grounds - in two years of sitting on panels I have allowed one ICS appeal.

It is refreshing to see someone doing their research, you'd be surprised how many do none!

Question, when they make that exception - as required by law, does the school get funding for an extra teacher due to the change in teacher/child ratio?

In your experience, is that one of the reasons that the appeals fail (e.g cost vs necessity) or is that simply scam/late apps, poor grounds for appeals etc?.