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Primary School Application Proof of Residency for Child

10 replies

mom101 · 06/04/2010 23:41

AGgghhhh

I have worked so hard in the last few years to focus on moving into a catchment area for a good school.

i have been offered a place that I want but am now in a pickle for many reasons.

I don't have my child's benefit records and NHS card registered to my current address but my parents address for two reasons:
a) Being married to a doctor meant moving around. Since my child has been born we are currently in our 4th rented accommodation!
b) My child was identified with hearing problems about the age of 1 years. To help diagnose effective treatment for him I was referred to 4 separate specialist areas to assist in this. Given NHS waiting times and preference for continuous consistent care I did not want to move him away from this address to ensure he was obtaining the best care for his problem.

I have very strong evidence for living in the correct catchment area but virtually no evidence of the child at this address other than the fact that he is my child and I am responsible for him.

I have only one item that proves he lives with us and that is nursery statements everything else for him nhs card, benefits and his medical docor are all at my parents address.

I have contacted the local authority and explained my situation, they just told me to send in the evidence.

I feel very very upset by all this how did I miss this, has anyone got any experience of this and if so do you think I stand a good chance, my case is genuine.

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selby · 06/04/2010 23:53

Very easily solved. Ring up the number on your child benefit documentation and notify your change of address on their records and ask them to send you a letter to confirm this pronto. I had to do this too following DH's job relocation.

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mom101 · 06/04/2010 23:58

Yes but all documentation has to be dated before the 5th Feb- not so easy Im afraid but thank you for your kind suggestion

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tabouleh · 07/04/2010 17:14

I would write them a letter fully explaining the position and copy it to the school.

Send in your proof of your residence for your rented accomodation - then presumably you are the recipient of the child benefit which shows that you have parental responsibility.

I would explain that you realise that this is a slightly unusual scenario but that if they are not prepared to accept your documentation and explanation that you will be taking it to appeal.

I would think that the key is that your DC was actually resident at the property at the specified date. The requested paperwork is an easy method for the LA to check. I am thinking that there must be a work around.

Have a look at The School Admissions code in particular section 1.80. they mention council tax and utility bills.

I am not sure why they are asking for child benefit and NHS cards?

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admission · 07/04/2010 18:36

If you are married (there is no custody issues that is) and can prove that you have been in the rented accomodation on the necessary date and still are there with a reasonable (6 months plus agreement) then the LA should be prepared to accept your residency at the specified address.

The information the LA have asked for is usually asked for where there is a custody issue and the LA is trying to prove which address the child is at for the majority of the week. As such the address where child benefit is paid then becomes important.

Write to the LA, show them the reasons why your parent's address is on the documents, but make sure that you provide the rental agreement info with dates as to when you moved in and how long the agreement is for. You have to prove where you live, not where you get medical treatment, so the LA should accept this info.

If they do not, tell them that you are going to appeal but at the same time report the LA to the Schools Adjudicator as they are clearly not accepting what is perfectly good documentary proof of your residential address. However if you are on a short term lease that is less than 6 months then you are probably going to find that the LA will assume that you are trying to fiddle your way into the school. Regretably this is not unknown!

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clam · 07/04/2010 19:07

I've never understood why child benefit letters are deemed to "prove" where a child lives. As you've just outlined, your child actually lives at a different address from the one they have on file, and presumably the money is paid into a bank account. So what does the address count for?
Do your bank details use your address? If so, maybe they can marry the two up?

We had something similar a few years back. We had forgotten to tell the child benefit people we'd moved and it didn't seem to matter at the time as all mail was forwarded from our previous address and they only write to you once a year anyway. Instead we sent a bundle of everything I could lay my hands on to prove we'd lived there at the relevant date: council tax bill, phone bill, electoral roll details, utility bills, rental agreement, a tradesman's receipt for the relevant date (it so happened they'd come to service the alarm system on the very day and I'd signed for it), the 'oven clean' receipt (who has an oven cleaned if they don't live there?) the Sky TV invoice (again, who pays for Sky TV if they don't live there?). Think I even included the removal company's receipt for us moving in. This was enough for the admissions department and they wrote back confirming all was OK and above board.
By the way, make copies of anything you send!

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mom101 · 07/04/2010 20:45

Thank you for your suggestions, I certainly can prove my residence I hope all will be okay I will be sending my paperwork later this week. I will keep you posted but it is agony!

Really appreciate the time taken to respond

X

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ShoshanaBlue · 08/04/2010 09:58

I think the reason they ask for NHS cards (that's what we sent in) rather than utility bills is because it's the address of the child they want and children don't usually pay bills. Not all children live with their parents and I don't think all privately fostered children are registered. I once read of a case for a privately fostered child where the mother was still claiming all the benefits and the child didn't get a place at the catchment area school because there was confusion over the child's address because of the benefits issue.

This isn't an issue in this case so shouldn't be a problem as long as you send in the documentation

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mom101 · 13/04/2010 16:03

Hi All thanks for all you advice, I have submitted my documenation today and will keep you all posted. Thanks again

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strandedatsea · 13/04/2010 16:05

If the worse comes to the worse can't they do a visit? Rather than deny you the place?

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mom101 · 28/04/2010 19:29

Hi All

Am so relieved our primary school place for our preferred school has been accepted. I sent about 25 different documents to prove our residency and all of my sons medical notes.

His place has been confirmed

thanks everyone for your comments and reassurances.

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