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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Should I accept this school place for my daughter?

18 replies

Untimeline · 20/08/2014 16:46

Hello all,

I'm just hoping for a quick bit of advice on primary school places. My DD is due to go into Year 2 this September at a new school (just moved house).

She has been offered a place at a school so far away there is no physical way for us to get her to school on time (as her siblings' school is in the opposite direction).

I appreciate there are lots and lots of families in this situation, but my question is, should we accept the place knowing we will not be taking her there in September? Or should we decline in the knowledge our LA have no further responsibility to offer us a place elsewhere?

I know we shouldn't accept knowing there are others out there still waiting - but on the other hand I know there are several places in Y2 at this particular school. Will we be in a stronger position with our LA if we do accept the place for now??

OP posts:

DeWee · 20/08/2014 16:54

From what I understand accept it.
If it's over 3miles (?) you should get transport for her.
If September comes and you still have that school only, I would ask to meet the head on the first/second day and give your transport problems and see if he can help.

ShirleyYoureNotSerious · 20/08/2014 17:12

The head has no jurisdiction over transport issues, DeWee.

Untimeline, is the school one of your choosing or is it the nearest school with places and awarded to DD as such by the Local Authority?

If you specified that school it's your duty to sort out transport and any associated cost. If the school is the nearest with places and has been decided upon by the LA alone then they will be responsible for providing "suitable" transport if the school is over 2 miles by the shortest safe walking route away for under 8s and over 3 miles away for 8 year olds and over.

Don't wait until the start of term, contact your Local Authority by email today and ask them what provision they are making for DD to attend school (presuming that the choice of school is theirs).

Be warned that they might consider a bus pass for the child to be the answer. Their obligation is to get the child to school, not to accommodate the needs of the parent or other siblings. You may need to employ a childminder, breakfast club or daily nanny to do the school run if you can't be there in person.

You're absolutely right that if you decline the LA has no duty to find you another school. Your options then would be to find an alternative with spaces within the state or private sector or to home educate.

Accepting or not accepting doesn't give you a stronger position. The law is what it is. You don't have reasonable grounds to win an admissions appeal.

I have to ask this; you say that the school has places. I assume by this that it's less desirable than nearer/other schools in the area. Would you be more willing to accommodate your daughter's journey into school if it was a better regarded establishment?

Original poster

Untimeline · 20/08/2014 17:13

Thank you. It's just under 3 miles but the traffic involved is what makes it impossible. Cycling not an option due to young baby, we have looked at all the options but it's just not possible.

OP posts:

phantomnamechanger · 20/08/2014 17:15

How old are her siblings? Can they get the bus to school?

OddBoots · 20/08/2014 17:16

Are there any spaces in this school for her sibling?

ShirleyYoureNotSerious · 20/08/2014 17:22

So your daughter's 7 years old?

If so she should be entitled to home-school transport provided that the LA has decided upon this school and it isn't your own choice.

How old is DD's sibling? Are they of primary age too?

BarbarianMum · 20/08/2014 17:31

Neither accepting or rejecting the school will make any difference to the strength of your position with the local authority re: finding you another school because they have no duty to do so. I don't think either would affect any appeal you might want to make for a different school but maybe check that.

If you would rather home school than accept the place then turn it down and put your name down on the waiting lists of all schools you would actually consider. Alternatively, accept the place and put your dd's name down on the waiting lists of all schools you would consider.

Or you can move again, or you can go private. Not helpful but those are all the choises there are.

Out of interest, how does the traffic make it impossible?

ShirleyYoureNotSerious · 20/08/2014 17:49

In theory neither accepting nor declining an unwanted school place should make a difference to an admissions appeal for another school. In practice it often does.

Some members of appeals panels tend to consider it's close to blackmailing.

"What will you do with DC if your appeal is unsuccessful is a frequent question thrown at appellants. "I don't know" or "I won't be doing anything until a place at St Mary's becomes available" doesn't sit well with panels at all.

Farahilda · 20/08/2014 18:00

If you are not going to send her to this school in September, how are you going to fulfill your legal obligation to provide her with an education?

Declining the place will make no difference whatsoever to her place on the waiting lists for schools to prefer, nor to the outcome of any appeals (as although the 'perceived blackmail' may well alienate the panel, it is something that should be ignored when applying the rules, - but it definitely won't help you).

If you reapply to your LEA, you'll probably be offered the same school again, as it'll be the nearest with a vacancy.

It might be worth exploring if there are any other undersubscribed schools that (thought further away) are logistically easier for you. You won't necessarily qualify for free school transport if you have declined a place at a nearer school (how far away is the currently offered one?)

Cheeky76890 · 20/08/2014 19:18

In your shoes I'd home school her till a place came up at a more local school. Homeschooling a year 2 is straight forward.

PenisesAreNotPink · 20/08/2014 19:22

Eh?

If the OP could homeschool she could get her to school as there would be time surely?

I would just get her there late every day. It will be picked up by the lea and they will have more interest in sorting it. You can get her there, you're just going to be bloody late

They can't penalise you for not getting there on time since we haven't invented transporters yet

Can't you pay for a taxi?

DeWee · 20/08/2014 19:27

Sorry Shirley I didn't mean to imply the head should sort out the LA transport. I meant if she's not eligable for LA transport, then ask him what provisions there are that she could make use of for the time being. Our head of infants arranged for one dc to be able to arrive 15 minutes early and be in the library (next and visible to the office) in similar circumstances.

littlewhitebag · 20/08/2014 19:28

How is the traffic situation doing it in the other direction? Drop 7 yo first then take the other DC to school? Do both schools start at the same time?

Or do you have a friend/neighbour who can take the older DC while you take 7yo to her school?

Or can older DC get a bus to their school?

DeWee · 20/08/2014 19:29

ljny · 20/08/2014 19:45

Strongly suggest you repost (or ask MN to move your thread) to the Primary Education topic - the link is:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary

Your question often comes up there, and they have very helpful experts who will give you much useful advice - I'm not sure any of those experts hang around AIBU?

As others have said, the universal advice in your situation is to accept the offered place. Even if you can't get your child there, even if you have no intention of sending her!

Your real issue is getting her on waiting lists, appealing, etc, for a closer school. And you'll get lots of very detailed advice and guidance on that in the Primary topic.

If you were to reject the offered place, the LA doesn't have to offer you an alternative, and it can put their back up when you appeal and pursue waiting lists. Only refuse the place if you seriously intend to homeschool.
HTH

ShirleyYoureNotSerious · 20/08/2014 20:41

Sorry DeWee, I completely misunderstood you earlier.

Greengrow · 20/08/2014 21:50

Loads of us have to work very hard to pay for someone to take our children to school. What stops that happening? We did it even when we had a baby at home. Lots of women work full time and have to pay for childcare. Just do that.

Cheeky76890 · 21/08/2014 03:46

The lea will have fulfilled their responsibility by offering you the far away school.

How large is the closer local school? What the usual pupil turn over? (Ours is high). How long could you wait for a place?

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