Mid term school places

[swagstar]

Hello -does anyone have any experience of getting children into infant/primary school in Southwark mid year? My daughter will be in school from next September and then we will be looking to move areas (back to East Dulwich) probably mid the year after. A lot of the talk is about the horror and pain of getting into the school intially. Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of getting into school mid year?

Huge thanks in advance

X

[swagstar]

Anyone? Starting to have a mini nervous breakdown that it's not possible! x

[AnnaCBH]

Hello, you'll only get a place if someone leaves. And then it'll be dependent on the waiting list. If you are closest to the school then they will offer you a space. Otherwise they'll offer it to everyone above you on the list.

, they might or might not accept that place. If they don't then they will continue down the list, hopefully until they get to you.

(They being the council)

(Another caveat is siblings and looked after children, they will both go straight to the top of the list)

Basically in reception spaces don't remain empty for long so it's just a waiting game. Make sure the travel from your new home to the old school is manageable until a potential space becomes available.

[edanna]

There's no easy answer to this - it is definitely possible but it all relies on a place in the right year group being free and you being at the top of the list for that place. Your chances are definitely higher further up the school. But of course it all varies. Do you know where you will be living? And how close is it to schools?

[SE22mum]

We moved to ED mid-year and got our first choice. We live close to the school so maybe that helped - but also there are often a few moves mid-year so places do come up. I think is much easier for primary than secondary.

[swagstar]

Thanks so much all.

I've moved to Surrey but going to move back to East Dulwich (don't know exactly where) so travel to the old school wont really be possible as it would be an hour long drive. They wouldn't just leave a child without a school place at all would they?

[BeccaL]

No, they won't leave a child without a place but they won't be able to open up a place in a class that's full, so you may end up in a school further away than you'd like initially.

[swagstar]

Great thanks so much for all of your input everyone, really helpful.

[snowboarder]

Not wanting to scare you but the primary education board on mumsnet seems to suggest it can happen that you are without a school place for some time until a place comes up - I think it depends how close you are to schools that you want - though maybe in more suburban areas where there is less choice.....http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/2174251-Appeal-on-Monday-for-son-with-no-school-place-at-all-for-6-months-Help-pls