Do i stand a chance with this appeal? (Reception)

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Dd didn't get in to any of the 5 schools on our list, presumably because we moved at a really inconvenient time and our application was classed as late.
However I have medical issues which can prevent me from driving/walking and the only other person who is able to take my dd to school is a friend who's son has a place in the reception class of our first choice school.
I am also pretty peeved as they have put her in a faith school even though none of the schools on our list were faith schools (I am atheist and a have a bit of a religious phobia!)
We are also a 2 minute walk from our first choice and a 15 minute drive from the one she's been put in.
I think the medical reasons are the strongest but I'm wondering if it's strong enough??

[OneEpisode]

I'm not sure a parent's health is a criteria for admissions, so wouldn't be for appeals. Are you on waiting lists?

[Smartiepants79]

Sadly I believe the only medical reasons they'd be interested in would be your child's. I may stand corrected but I think parental illness and issues with transport are not grounds for appeal. They may offer some kind of transport for your daughter ( they used to ) but not sure if that exists anymore and it would mean her travelling alone probably in a taxi.
How old is she? If this is for reception the only way you'd win is if you can prove they've made a mistake and put her in the wrong admissions category. There cannot legally be more than 30 in a reception class.
The faith issues is also just that I'm afraid, your issue. It will have no bearing on whether you would win an appeal. All state schools have a broadly Christian ethos anyway.

[prh47bridge]

Don't dismiss faith schools. Some faith schools are less religious than some community schools.

Most Reception appeals are infant class size cases. If yours is an ICS case your chances of success are low. You can only win if a mistake has been made which deprived your child of a place or the admission authority has acted unreasonable in refusing admission. It does not sound as if either of those applies. You can still try. You may strike it lucky and get a sympathetic appeal panel that is willing to admit even though they shouldn't. But you need to be realistic about your chances of success.

If it isn't an infant class size case you stand a better chance of success. Whilst in general transport issues don't make for a successful appeal it is possible an appeal panel may look on your situation sympathetically.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Hmm I thought as much. She's on the waiting list for our first choice school so hopefully there will be some movements before September.

[admission]

Think that more information is needed to be able to make any comments. So when did you move and what did you tell the LA about the move? How far away was the move ? How far away is the preferred school from the previous address. Secondly what is the PAN for the school (as this will determine whether it is an infant class regs appeal.

[catslife]

By faith school do you mean C of E? You cannot appeal on faith grounds as all schools have to include Collective worship and Religious Education which must be mostly Christian. My dd went to a community school which had strong links with a local church whereas the local C of E primary school has a Head who is an atheist and only does the minimum to meet the requirements so the type of school isn't any indication of how religious the school is. You can opt out of RE/Collective worship if you really do have problems with anything religious.
For the Medical and social need, it depends if the school has this category of admissions (many schools don't) and as other people have said, it's usually if the child has a medical need serious enough to mean that they must attend this particular school. (Just having a medical condition isn't enough even for the child). There may be a small number of schools that would consider a parent's needs but not many and usually you are expected to supply evidence at the time of application e.g. doctors letter. If circumstances have changed e.g. your condition has become worse since you applied it could be worth appealing though.
It would be worth checking if you would be entitled to help with transport to school though.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

We moved in March, we're quite a distance from where we were before (Stockport to Trafford) so no chance of being able to stay with previous LA. I emailed Trafford LA way before we moved and they said that it would be classed as a late application. Apparently it is an infant class size appeal.

[attia]

Hello all,
Just wanted some advice if anybody can help. My daughter didn't get her 1st choice of primary school, she currently attends the nursery. I thought it would be difficult for her, due to being 1mile away, it's oversubscribed etc. I visited all the local schools in my area prior to her both starting nursery and her starting reception. I really only had one preference, which was her 1st choice. I did put down a second choice which she was given. I still want to appeal, mainly so that I no I tired my very best for her. My grounds for appeal may not be the strongest, but it is what it is. I also have twins boys who will be starting nursery in September. I'm wanting them to go to the same nursery my daughter attended. It has all the right qualities I'm looking for in terms of their learning and development needs and it's fairly small, which is important for the twins who are not talking yet and have been initially assessed as having delayed speech and development for their age. My daughter wants to stay where she is and has made a small number of friends who she is very close to. The addmussion this year was 45. The reasons for refusal was due to the fact they had more applicants than places. I'm really don't want to send the twins to another nursery - honestly think it will hinder them - one of them in particular can have a melt down just be taking him to a shopping centre. I've noticed with him it's large indoor spaces that affect him. I'm also a career for my mum who had a stoke, mum is wheelchair bound, diabetic and has vascular dementia. I'm currently caring for her 3/4hrs daily, 7 days a week. This is usually before afternoon nursery and then I'm back again after nursery or in the evening, until 9pm. It's not ideal with having a young family, but she requires 24hr care and the times I go are in between paid PA's and night care. I manage my mums health needs and care also, to ensure everything runs smoothly. Would the appeal panel take any of the above into consideration? My mums care is a major concern for me, if my daughter goes to the allocated school I won't be able to get to my mums in time to take over from the paid carer. The only other time I can then go to my mums is 7pm -9pm (due to the shift durations). Not ideally either.
I and the kids struggle with the above times, but I don't have a choice. She needs the care and I don't have any other help or options left. I no it's going to get harder for me once my daughter starts full-time, if not impossible. Just wonder in the panel would have any if the above into consideration?

[prh47bridge]

With an admission number of 45 it is likely that the school runs two Reception classes then 3 classes covering Y1 and Y2. If that is the case your appeal will be an infant class size case. That means you can only win if:

• the admission arrangements do not comply with the admissions code and this has cost your daughter a place

• the admission arrangements have not been administered correctly and this has cost your daughter a place

• the decision to refuse admission to your daughter was unreasonable

Nothing you've put in your post suggests that any of these is true.

Your best chance is to major on your mother's health problems and hope you get a sympathetic panel willing to bend the rules for you. But you need to be realistic about your chances.

[attia]

I don't think I all under any of those points either. I'm not sure how much info to include regarding my mum. Yes I do 3/4hrs a day and I'm on call two nights during the week if she needs to go to the bathroom. This has all been a result of her care being put at risk by other family members. She has put under safe guarding, which has been removed now due to my involvement in caring and managing her care. I have safeguarding meeting notes from the LA to use as evidence and it got soo messy myself and the LA had to involve the court of protection. Could I include the above has evidence?

[prh47bridge]

You can put whatever you want into evidence. In this case I haven't seen the content of these notes so I can't give direct advice but anything that shows the difficulties caused by your mother's health problems may help.

[attia]

Thank you prh47bridge for your advice. I have drafted my appeal. Would you be able to take a look at it? It's my 1st time using the forum so not sure how it works? If you able to take a look, am I able to send you a direct message?

[Donnaobrien47]

My daughter didn't get her first choice of school for my grandson even although he attends nursery there. The school offered is a 25 minute walk each way. No bus route. My grandson has a medical issue which will cause problems him walking that distance every day. She can't afford taxis every day. I hope she wins appeal.

[wannabestressfree]

She can ask for help.with transport in light of his medical issues. Does he get Dla?

[Donnaobrien47]

No he doesn't get DLA. But the doctor agrees he shouldn't be walking that distance.

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

Did she send a letter from the doctor in with her application? With the right medical evidence she certainly has a shot at either a) appeal or b) LA Transport

[wannabestressfree]

And she needs to apply for Dla....

[prh47bridge]

Yes, I'd be happy to take a look. Click on "Message poster" by my name and send me a private message. If you need to email me stuff I'll let you know how to do it.

[Donnaobrien47]

Don't know how to do that.

[wannabestressfree]

I Don't think that was aimed at you Donna

[prh47bridge]

No, I was responding to the OP.