Common Application Form Guidance notes for Parents

It is important that you read the following notes:

Note 1 Children in Care
Children in Care (sometimes known as Looked After Children) are defined as being subject to a Care Order, an Interim Care Order or accommodated by the Local Authority.

FORM CAF2

Note 3 Transport
If your child is given a place at an out-catchment school of your preference, you will have to get your child to and from school and pay for any transport needed. We would only provide transport to an out-catchment preferred school if it is the next nearest school to your home with places available and with regard to the efficient use of resources and your child is either (a) under eight years of age and you live two miles or more from that school or (b) is eight or over and you live at least three miles from that school.

Private Fostering
If you are caring for someone else's child for more than 28 days, do not have parental responsibility for them and you are not a relative such as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether full blood, half blood or by marriage or civil partnership) or step-parent you may be private fostering and it is a legal requirement that you contact the county council on 0808 800 4005 or email customer.first@suffolk.gov.uk.

Note 4 Siblings (Details MUST be provided in the preferences section)

For any community and voluntary controlled schools please name the youngest sibling at or about to start at each preference school and refer to the county councils policy for admissions. For voluntary aided, foundation/trust, academy and free schools please refer to their individual policies and definitions of siblings. Failure to provide a siblings details could affect the offer of a school place.

Note 2 Childs Address

Please give your childs current address. If you are planning to move house, please attach details of your future address and moving date, if known. If you want your future address to be the one considered as part of your application, you must attach written evidence that you are legally committed to this move. Examples of this evidence would be a letter from a solicitor to say that a house contract has been exchanged, a signed tenancy contract, or, for returning UK Service/Crown Servant families, proof of the posting. Please contact the Admissions Team for further details.

If you are thinking about transferring your child to another school in Suffolk, but are not moving house, then please read the following before completing the CAF2.
Changing your childs school can affect your child in many ways and the decision should not be taken without careful thought. You may find it helpful to consider the following issues:

Older children who transfer school after exam subjects have been chosen in Year 9 may find that: l they cant do the same subjects in a new school; or l the exam boards and the courses are different. Have you thought whether: l your child can take the same subjects at a new school? l the courses will be the same? l your child will be comfortable taking a new subject or exam courses?

Teaching and School Organisation

For children of any age, every school has its own special way of doing things and of teaching the National Curriculum in different ways at different times. How will your child cope: l with learning new rules? l doing things in different ways? l if he or she has done the work before or has missed important earlier work? l if he or she finds the work new or strange?

Relationships
Children need to feel happy at school; relationships with the right friends and with teachers are an important part of this. Have you thought whether your child will be able to settle in and get to know new people quickly, so that his or her learning does not suffer?

Family Links
If your child has brothers or sisters at the same school, a move to another school may need careful consideration. Have you thought whether it will be a problem for you to have your children attending different schools? There is no automatic right for your other children to transfer to the new school, either now or in the future.

The next steps ...

Talking to your child and to school staff may help to overcome any problems. If you still feel that a move to another school is essential we strongly recommend that you arrange to visit to discuss the needs of your child and to learn more about the school. When you have done so and if you still want to go ahead with the move: 1. Please fill out the attached CAF2 and send the completed form to the Admissions Team. 2. The Admissions Team will check if there is a place available at your preferred school. If there is a place available, they will let you know. If there is no place available, they will not be able to meet your request but they will inform you about your right of appeal. 3. If we are able to offer your child a school place we will write to confirm this. You may then be asked to contact the school to arrange a meeting with the new Headteacher or a member of his or her staff to discuss the arrangements for your childs transfer to the school. Admission will be arranged as soon as possible but it may take up to two weeks for all the necessary arrangements to be made in order to ensure a smooth transfer for your child. 4. If, following your meeting with the new Headteacher or member of staff, you decide you would prefer your child to remain at his or her present school, you should notify the Admissions Team immediately. 5. Once the move is completed, your present school will arrange for your childs school record to be transferred to the new school. Please note that, if your request is for a voluntary aided school, a foundation/trust school, academy or free school, the decision about whether or not there is a place available at the school will be made by the Governing Body or Academy Trust, not the county council, but the county council will write to you on behalf of the Governing Body or Academy Trust explaining whether a place is available or not. Apart from this, the process will be exactly the same. These steps are aimed at making sure that a transfer is fully discussed between parents and schools and properly managed. It is important that a change of school is in the best interests of your child and that a transfer to a new school goes smoothly. Since the process may take some time to complete, you must ensure that your child continues to attend his or her present school while the necessary arrangements are being made. If you have any queries about these notes or need advice about filling in the application form, please contact the Admissions Team. You are also strongly advised to read the booklet Admissions to Schools in Suffolk before completing this form. Copies of the booklet are available online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissionstoschools, or from the Admissions Team.

Uniform
You might need to buy a completely new uniform, including PE kit, if your child changes school. Have you thought about the cost involved? Suffolk County Council does not provide a grant towards the provision of school clothing.

Transport
Your child needs to be able to get to school easily, safely and on time. Have you thought how your child would get to a new school or what the cost will be? In most circumstances you are unlikely to be eligible for travel assistance to another school.

Resolving Difficulties
Many matters that worry parents and children can be sorted out without the need to move schools. Moving schools may not resolve the difficulties and can even have a negative effect on your childs education by disrupting his or her schooling. Before coming to a final decision, you may find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

Have I ...
l sat down with my child to talk about the points in this leaflet and to discuss how he or she really feels about moving to a new school? l found out the real reason why he or she wants to move schools? l spoken to the teachers who teach my child (if there are worries about certain subjects) to find out what they think and how they could help? l spoken to the teacher in charge of Special Educational Needs (if my child needs extra help)? l spoken to my childs teachers or Head of Year (if he or she is being bullied or not getting on with other children)? l made an appointment to speak to the Headteacher (if you are still concerned about your child)? l spoken to the School Preference Advice Service for some independent advice? If you have spoken to the Headteacher and are still not satisfied with the way in which the school has responded to your concerns, you can ask for the matter to be investigated in accordance with the schools General Complaints Procedure. A leaflet is available online at www.suffolk.gov.uk or from the school. This will explain how you can make a formal complaint.

Common Application Form for In-year applications to all schools for the 2012/2013 school year

An In-year application is an application for admission which is not for the start of the entry year. We strongly recommend that you read the booklet Admissions to Schools In Suffolk 2012/2013 before completing this form. This is also available online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissionstoschools

IMPORTANT: Please read the Guidance notes for parents before completing this form and print in capital letters
CHILDS DETAILS:
Child's Legal Last Name: First Name: Middle Name:

FORM CAF2

Date of birth:

Male: Female:

n n

Does your child have a Statement of Special Educational Needs? Yes:

Is the child in Care? (See Note 1) Yes:

No:

No:

Childs current address: (See Note 2)

Postcode:

Present or Most Recent School Attended (School Name, address and postcode):

Headteacher/contact name:

School Phone Number:

Date last attended this school:

APPLICANTS DETAILS:
Parent/Carer: Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms Last Name: Telephone numbers: Initials: Relationship to child:

Email address:

Are you privately fostering this child? (See Note 1)

Yes:

OTHER DETAILS:
If you are moving house, please fill in these boxes (See Note 2): Childs future address: Date of move: Returning UK Service/ Crown Servant Family? Yes:

For Admissions Team use only Catchment School: Date Application Received:

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST STATE YOUR SCHOOL PREFERENCES BELOW

Date on which you want your child to start at your preferred school:

FIRST PREFERENCE
Please write the name of your first preference school in this box: Do any of your other children attend this school or the associated junior school? (See Note 4) Childs name ..................................................................................... Date of birth...................................................................................... Reasons (you do not have to fill in this section if you do not want to)

SECOND PREFERENCE (We recommend you apply for more than one school see Note 3)
Please write the name of your second preference school in this box: Do any of your other children attend this school or the associated junior school? (See Note 4) Childs name ..................................................................................... Date of birth...................................................................................... Reasons (you do not have to fill in this section if you do not want to)

THIRD PREFERENCE (We recommend you apply for more than one school see Note 3)
Please write the name of your third preference school in this box: Do any of your other children attend this school or the associated junior school? (See Note 4) Childs name ..................................................................................... Date of birth...................................................................................... Reasons (you do not have to fill in this section if you do not want to)

Please complete this section where relevant l If your application for a place at a voluntary controlled school is based on religious grounds, you must attach a letter from a priest or minister specifically stating that you and/or your child is a practising member of the Church of England and go to church at least once a month. Please tick this box if you have attached this letter: n l If you are applying for a place at a voluntary aided school, you must also get a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) from either the school or the Admissions Team, fill it in and take or send it to the voluntary aided school direct. You may also need to complete a SIF for an academy or free school. Please tick this box to confirm you have taken or sent a SIF to the voluntary aided school/academy direct: n

SIGNATURE (MUST be completed)

I confirm that I have read the booklet Admissions to Schools in Suffolk for 2012/2013 and the guidance notes for parents. I understand I will not receive an acknowledgement of this application and the Admissions Team is not responsible for forms lost in the post. I also confirm that the information I have given on this form is true and I have parental responsibility for this child. Parent or carers signature: Date:

Admissions Team contact details and where to send this form (we strongly suggest you get proof of posting):
All applications, including for voluntary aided, foundation/trust, academy and free schools, must be sent to the Admissions Team. DO NOT RETURN TO A SCHOOL. Admissions Team Telephone Constantine House, 5 Constantine Road, Ipswich IP1 2DH 0845 600 0981 Email admissions.suffolk@csduk.com
807CYP010512