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Original poster

DD with mobility issues has been offered school with no lift!

37 replies

Theycallmepheobe · 03/03/2018 13:53

DD has mobility issues as a result of a stroke when she was little. Her first choice school have been doing lots of transition work with her and in past years all children from the village have got in ok, so we just assumed it would be ok. She’s really upset. The third choice school (where she has a place) had little interest in talking to me about adjustments and have not been that helpful. In total contrast to the first school who have been fantastic. We are 28th on the list for her preferred school - not based in London or in an area where lots of children go to private school. Is there hope? We will appeal as well and her current school have been very supportive, but I’m hopeful she might get in anyway. In retrospect we should have applied via the special needs process but she gets on mainstream primary school without much support (but there are no steps).

OP posts:
Original poster
Theycallmepheobe · 03/03/2018 14:11

We spoke to the offered school before applying. I will talk to them again once waiting list places have been offered. But they didn’t fill me with confidence.

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BarbarianMum · 03/03/2018 14:10

OK it's good you provided it - that leaves open the arguement that they should have considered it as a possibility.

Hopefully one of the admissions experts that haunt these boards will be along to advise you soon. In the meantime it would be good to know which admission category your dd was placed in. Do you know? Was it just down to distance that she didn't get in?

GrockleBocs · 03/03/2018 14:10

We did apply under the exceptional grounds unsuccessfully so we're having to go to appeal. I don't think the waiting lists are starting until 29th March so there won't be movement until then.

Original poster
Theycallmepheobe · 03/03/2018 14:09

She doesn’t have an EHCP so when I looked at it initially it looked like we couldn’t apply under the sen route. She doesn’t have any adjustments at school and gets on ok. She will just struggle going up and down steps with lots of other children.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theycallmepheobe · 03/03/2018 14:06

Yes I did put this in the application, but was told by the admissions office that they don’t take this into account! I’ve spoken to the admissions depts for her catchment (offered) school and her preferred school (we are just over the border of the catchment area) and both said there was nothing we could do but appeal.

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endofthelinefinally · 03/03/2018 14:04

Unfortunately it sounds as if you haven't used the correct application process.
You will have to appeal, but you can't blame the Education authority or council (whoever allocates school places these days) for not taking into account your dd's mobility requirements if they didn't know about them.

BarbarianMum · 03/03/2018 14:04

And yes, you should appeal (nothing to loose) but if you didn't provide the information then that may harm your chances of success (maybe less so at secondary level than at primary as no infant class size to worry about). Do you have a letter from her doctor/consultant outlining her needs and limitations? If not, get one as a matter of urgency. If she can't manage steps, or not more than a couple, or needs a lift or couldnt physically manage a lot of walking then get them to spell it out.

GrockleBocs · 03/03/2018 14:04

Yes you absolutely should have applied under at least the exception/medical criteria. Does she have an EHCP?
If not, you'll need to appeal. Why did you put that school on your list?

Original poster
Theycallmepheobe · 03/03/2018 14:03

Thank you. We are going to appeal, but this could take some time and mean she has to live with uncertainty for a while, while all her friends know where they are going. I’m hoping the waiting list moves quickly!

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SavoyCabbage · 03/03/2018 14:01

National offer day was only on Thursday and a lot of schools will not have been working on full capacity on Thursday and Friday because of the weather so could it be that they haven’t had a chance to talk to you properly about your dd’s additional needs?

It must have been such a shock for her not to get a place when historically everyone has got one.

BarbarianMum · 03/03/2018 14:00

Did you provide any information about her mobility needs with your schools application ?

PearlyG8 · 03/03/2018 13:55

I hope someone more knowledgeable will be along. Can you appeal?