Late primary school application causes split

A late primary school application, due to a last minute move to the town, has resulted in the brother being offered a place at Braiswick Primary, while his sister, seven has to be home-schooled.

The children’s mother, who asked not to be named, will home-tutor her daughter instead.

She said: “It has been a nightmare.

“Essex County Council can’t give answers and I am just stuck waiting for the schools to get back to me.

“Why does the whole education system go into a standstill during the summer holidays?”

The mother said she could not apply for schools spaces before she got a job.

She was advised by Essex County Council to call schools and find how many spaces they had for the forthcoming academic year.

Her son, four, was admitted to Braiswick Primary, which opens in September.

The children’s mother is critical of a recent county council press release praising the number of school places it has created.

She said: “It makes out it has brand new schools, but my daughter has no place at any of these new schools and I can’t do anything.

“She doesn’t even have uniform.

“They might stick her in a school in Stanway if they have the space. It is an absolute mess.”

She faces the prospect of home schooling her daughter until a place at the same school as her brother is available for the 2016/17 academic year.

She said: “The only school that has been helpful is Braiswick Primary.

“I was really impressed with the way the school is run.”

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, said: “The council has taken considerable steps to ensure a sufficient supply of school places, including the expansion of existing schools and the provision of a new school in Colchester, with another due to open in September 2016.

“The law does not permit the reservation of places for families moving into an area or to guarantee a place at specific schools.

“The council will provide a school place for every child where their parents make an application.”