DD1 has SN and has started at the nearest Special School this week. The Local Authority could have allowed her to go to our nearest primary with a TA 1:1, but they felt that the Special School was the best setting for her. I am in full agreement, although would have been willing to try full 1:1 first, as long as a switch to SS was available if it didn't work. Because it is 10 miles away, the LA will provide transport. Her school finishes at 3pm, so she will arrive at our house at 3.30 ish. We HAVE to be there. If not, Social Services/Police are called. Council policy. Fair enough.
DD2 turns 4 in August, and therefore starts School in September. She is NT, so needs to go to a primary. The 4 nearest primary schools finish at 3.30 pm (2.3 miles away, with no on site parking), 3.30 pm (2.1 miles away with no on-site parking) 3.30 pm (2.4 miles away with no on site parking) and 3.10 pm (1.3 miles away with no on-site parking).
Obviously, this makes only one school (our nearest) logistically possible to be able to both pick up DD2 and be home for DD1's arrival.
We have been told that this year is a bulge year, and that even placement in our catchment primary is not guaranteed. Everyone is advised to carefully choose their 3 schools.
I have phoned the LA for advice. They told me
"Put down your nearest school, and leave option 2 & 3 blank."
When I said "but this is a bulge year, and we have been warned even catchment is not guaranteed..." she said
"Oh, yes. Well, put nearest school as option 1, then you need to hope that options 2 or 3 might have some afterschool provision that you can use...."
AIBU to think that as
a) It was the LA that decided DD1 should go to a Special School
b) That because her Statement names a Special School it is deemed her only suitable school
c) The LA determines the drop-off times, and they are non-negotiable
d) our nearest school is the only school that is logistically possible to take custody of both children at the designated times.
that the LA should guarantee DD2 a place at the nearest primary?
We quite literally have no choice here. By choice, we would send her to the school that all of her church friends go to, 2.3 miles away, although our nearest school is very good, and we would happily send DD2 there as an alternative.
I did ask if, as the schools further out are all Church schools (CofE), DD2 would qualify for transport, but she said that this tends to mean 'Catholic Schools', as anyone could go to a CofE school, it doesn't mean they are a Christian.
So, AIBU?