Appeal letter for Reception

[SuzeGreen]

Hello
I am hoping someone can help me out advice wise, regarding writing an appeal letter for my son to get into his first choice reception class. He was given his second choice due to it being a closer school but i feel my first choice would be a better school for him due to him having autism. I am also in the process of getting him statemented (i hope).
Ive never been very good at form filling etc, i get myself stressed out and in a mess.
Thanks in advance
Suzanne

[JakeBullet]

Hi Suzanne,

I have asked MNHQ to move this post to the Primary Education topic where you'll get more advice.

[RowanMumsnet]

Thanks JakeBullet

SuzeGreen - we've moved this to our Primary Education talk topic now; hope you get some good advice.

[NorthernLurker]

There will be lots of people along shortly to help I'm sure. Did you mention that your son had autism when you applied?

[Cloverer]

I'm no expert, but I think unless there are fewer than 30 children in the Reception class you want then autism won't make a difference.

[SuzeGreen]

I have read through Walsall LA criteria for schools and it states

1. Children in public care (looked after children)
   
2. Children who have older siblings
   
3. Children for whom a place at the school is essential on medical or social grounds.
   
4. Distance.
   

Sorry to sound silly but what does number 1 mean? Does this mean SEN?
Thanks
Suzanne

[Cloverer]

1. is children in care (fostered)
   

Did you put essential medical grounds in your application? How many children are there in the Reception class?

[SuzeGreen]

I thought it meant that but wasnt sure.
I did mention my son has autism because the same school has already read his report from the CDC when he was offered a nursery place there.
They have two reception classes of 25-26 children.

[Cloverer]

If their PAN is under 30 then you definitely have grounds to appeal - I think the point you have to make is that your child would be more disadvantaged by not being given a place, than the school would by giving it to him.

[NorthernLurker]

Did you mean that you didn't mention the autism in this application because the school already had the report from nursery applications? I so that will be the issue then - his application has been treated as a distance one and not one on medical grounds.

[clam]

And although the school might know he has Autism, they don't deal with the application, the LEA does.

[admission]

The question that is key is whether on your application form that you sent to the Local Authority you said your child has autism and that you want to be considered under cat 3 of the admission criteria.
If you did then the admission authority should have considered your application and decided whether they were prepared to accept you were in cat 3. They have the opportunity to say no but should have told you before the cut-off date. If they have not done anything then that is certainly grounds for an appeal. A lot will depend on what the LA say as to whether the panel accept you should have been considered under this category.
You say that the school has two reception classes of 25-26, so any appeal will not be an infant class size appeal and you have the opportunity to explain to the panel why going to this school is the only sensible choice. You need to be getting evidence together now and the first priority has to be a letter from a consultant confirming the diagnosis of autism and that this can lead to ......
The letter must not say Mrs X tells me that, it must be from the consultant and factual in saying what is wrong with your son. Some how you need to explain why your preferred school is the right school and getting the consultant to conform this would also be a good step forward.
If you did not mention the autism on the application form then you should still appeal as it is not an infant class size appeal. You need to explain why you did not ask for the medical condition to be considered under cat 3 and then explain all the reasons for wanting that school.

[SuzeGreen]

Thank you all for all your help and advice, its very much appreciated :) xx

[BeQuicksieorBeDead]

Dont be so sure that an appeals panel will turn down an appeal that takes a class over 30. One school near me have had appeals admissions taking them to over 40 in a class at key stage 2, and in to the 30s for eyfs and key stage 1. I understand a lot of these were out of catchment SEN. A teacher there told me that the appeals panel suggested they use the school hall as a makeshift classroom for the overspill! If your number one school are at capacity, it might be worth trying to find out what they would do if you got in. You might not like the answer, I have heard of unqualified teachers taking sessions as one extra pupil doesnt pay for another teacher. I really hope this doesn't apply to you and that there is a place.

[BeQuicksieorBeDead]

tiggy that makes a lot of sense actually... easy to blame the appeals panel.