Time for parents to start making school choices

As one bun fight for school places ends, the next one begins.

Parents are being reminded to make their applications for children to start school, or to move to secondary school for September 2010.

Applications can be made from Monday 7 September and parents are urged to get these applications in on time.

Last year, Bristol City Council received 300 late applications causing problems that meant not only were parents less likely to get their first choice of school, there was some panic they would get into school at all.

Parents and carers of year six children looking to move to secondary school will be sent a special admissions booklet to include details of secondary school open days.

These packs are also available online and being proactive about obtaining them rather than waiting for them to drop on the doormat would be sensible.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, said: “Every family that applies for a school place will be offered one, but you have a better chance of getting the school you want if you apply on time.

“The best way to be confident about your choices is to visit as many schools as possible.  We want as many children as possible to go to a school near their home, which is why extra places have been created to help meet demand, including the opening of new school buildings in Bishopston for September 2010.

These days, parents are just as keen to get their children into an infant school of their choice as well as a secondary school. Early applications are vital to achieve this.

To help Bristol parents through the absolute minefield of school applications, Bristol Choice Advisor, Denise Tovey, is available through the Family Information Service. She can help families with information and how to navigate the application process.

Denise said: “Choice Advice is an impartial service. I can’t tell you if one school is better than another, but I can help with the process of applying.  I see people who are moving to Bristol, thinking about academies, preparing for an appeal, or want an information session at their school.  Families should be reassured that 95% of applicants get one of their three choices of secondary school.”

Denise has some tips for parents in the school application gold rush:

Decide what you want from a school;
Find out all you can about the schools you are interested in;
Visit them all;
Decide which best suit your child;
Make your three choices;
Get your application in on time.
The closing date for primary and secondary admissions is at 5pm on Friday 23rd October.

Chopsy Baby highly recommends the Bristol Family Information Service. They provide impartial advice on a wide range of childcare options from birth to schooling and will post you any information you require.

For more information, visit: www.bristol-cyps.org.uk/early/family-information-service.html