Any Solomons about?

[bakedpotato]

I don’t know what to do. DD is at a nursery school attached to the local primary. We've just found out she hasn't got a reception place but is fairly high on waiting list. Various points:
a/ It's now all down to distance. All the waiting-list children are level-pegging on points.
b/ From glancing at the map it's obvious that one particular child, above DD on the w/l, actually lives further away. Like, a quarter of a mile.
c/ Council has now admitted that it hasn't been working to the 'distance' criteria set out by the school (this will not have affected the quarter-mile issue, btw): they've been measuring from different points on the school grounds
d/ Council won't remeasure without school's request (not forthcoming so far). School has told us we have grounds to appeal.
Is this really our only option?
Any advice?

[bundle]

ooh bp, making me nervous just thinking about it. i assume the other options are no-nos...
lots of people take places and don't actually take them up - or don't turn them down because they're hedging their bets. i know someone who appealed in haringey (which was a disaster zone last yr) and won.

[bakedpotato]

.

[bushytail]

Press school to request remeasure. Contact Governors if necessary, via school or via local authority. (I am Chair of Govs and would respond to such a request myself).

Good luck!

[bakedpotato]

Thanks, BT.
You've put some lead in my pencil.

[bushytail]

Let us know how you get on! :)

[Uwila]

Definately appeal! Good luck.

[foxinsocks]

I would appeal

I'm surprised the council have admitted their error - surely this will affect other people aswell? I think our school has 2 measure points - a top gate (where the infants go in) to the north and a main gate to the south. It's worth finding out exactly where they are supposed to measure from (in case they are allowed to use multiple points).

I also think if you can get a place now it will be so much easier. If you're high up the waiting list then you probably stand a good chance anyway but there's always the added factor of people moving near the school and going higher up the list etc. to deal with.

[bakedpotato]

The council has confirmed, to me and to the school, that it has not used the school's official measuring criteria.

[foxinsocks]

how astonishing! you've definitely got grounds, so I would appeal. Also, ask the council if they are going to redo the waiting list anyway.

Do you know people near you who have got in/not got in? I seem to remember a case where a woman proved that a child who lived further away than they did had got a place and the council had no choice but to offer her a place when one came up.

[bakedpotato]

Update for those kind enough to offer suggestions.
DD has got a place waiting list shrank so we don't have to appeal.
I know the school asked the council to remeasure (I got in touch with governors as bushytail suggested), but I don't know the result.