HELP PLEASE- RECEPTION APPEAL SUMMING UP

[MEGASTRESSED]

This will be quite long I'm afraid, but I've been losing sleep over it and have left it till last minute because we thought we had another option (school) but that hasn't happened.
APPEAL IS 12pm TUESDAY>
Right details; The school is around 4 miles away but only a 8 minute drive through no traffic country roads.
Mum is disabled but wants to be able to do school run but mobility is problem and this school is the only one with parking facilities which would mean she doesn't even have to get out of car (have a 21 month old son too to compilcated matters!)
Also it is the only school actualy on husbands run to work so Mum deosn't have to get stressted if she cannot do it.
But the big problems the LEA had were that there were 22 siblings this year and only 30 spaces.
We thought they would class us under their EXCEPTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS CATAGORY but NO apparantly we do not come under that!!
We visited our MP who did write to the LEA but they just dismised him really and left it at that!
The LEA only seem bothered with maps and how close people are to schools!! That is all they have to say why they didn't give us the school, distance!!
They have offered us a closer school that has parking but Mum would need to get out still and with son too, also Dad couldn't do it because it is in opposite direction and traffic is very bad, surely he shouldn't have to risk losing his job!
Mums hospital consultant did write a letter but only put she needs to be able to drive to school and park close.
Any help please, husband has taken day off work to go, and I've noe enlisted help of parents to have children and I'm going too, in my wheelchair.
Also opinions on whether you think we have a chancce? Surely the most imortant thing about education is that they can get there! thanks in advance

It sounds terribly upsetting .. but also as though you have all your points covered

Are there days when you just are unable to get out of the house .. you'll need to lay it on thick .. ie is your condition prone to worsening in flares? ... I only think this might help as if its a stable condition they would say you'll just have to get used to the whole drop-off and allow enough time

Are you physically capable of getting out of the car and managing both children?

I think really you just have to go for it .. I wish you luck (and think it will be down to luck unfortunately)

there are advantages to being physically closer in terms of out of school playdates btw and you can get used to anything ... so don't discount a closer school if things don't go your way .. I'm sure you could arrange help from parents/teachers in the same class .. eg to take DS from car to classroom for you

but again good luck for appeal

You mention that your mum wants to do the school run, but is it essential that she does? UIs it that you work and cannot do it?

Sorry, I am not really clued up on appeals!

Thanks for your replys, yes it is a condition prone to flares, stress can also make it worse!
We feel we have had to programme most of our lives due to this illness to allow for bad times etc
Schooling is such a BIG THING and the LEA say that EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES actually even come before siblings on their admission criteria!!
The thing is if I struggle to get her to school, and she misses days then they will be knocking on our door! What do I do, she wouldn't let someone else take her other than family,(which is not an option).
I almost feel I've let her down, because there is a private school which would be a possibility if only we could afford it!
But my doctor wouldn't write me a report stating I would be reliable to attend work everyday, thats why I was pensioned off my job a few years ago!
Any more help with what to state in summing up will be greatly appreciated.
Also are we banging our heads against a brick wall? If all the spaces have been allocated what is the point in appeal?
Also does anyone know who will be there for the LEA is it one of their workers or a legal person?
We wanted to get someone to go for us but couldn't find anyone!

You need to play on your needs wrt a school, not your mum's. IIRC, they don't take "child care" into account and this is, technically, what your mother would count as. It would have to be your needs, not hers.

Do you mean the childs needs Soupdragon?
It is me that is Disabled (the childs mum), so it is my daughters needs in such that if I can't get her there then she will miss school.
Does that make sense?
thanks

Batters do you mean LEA?
We had numerous converstions with them, asked them to get a medical person to look at case etc
But they just kept saying it only matters if child is disabled so wouldn't even consider.
Does anyone know what will happen if I am unable to get her to the school of their choice?
Would it have to go to court?
It all seems like such a waste of taxpayers money, which would be better spent on education itself / health or something equally important.

I meant your needs, MStressed. The way you've written your initial post sounds like you're talking about your mum, not yourself :o

Thanks Soupdragon, so do you think they will listen regarding the childs mother being disabled?
If you read my last post the LEA wasn't interested because it wasn't the actual child.
thanks

I would have thought that they should do because the child will be unable to attend school if those needs are not met. I'm not an expert though, it's just my opinion.

I don't think the fact that it is the only school on your husband's way to work is going to help because that's really more of a convenience rather than essential.

No Batters it isn't!!
Anyway please if anyone can come up with any more HELP/ADVICE OF WHAT THE APPEAL PANEL WILL LISTEN TO/ACCEPT it will be very appreciated.
I will be off this site for a little while now as going to mil house, she is also disabled!!
PLEASE KEEP THE IDEAS/SUGGESTIONS COMING we are so desperate.
thanks in advance

Is hubbys way to work just convience if I have a few weeks where I cannot manage it?
How else would she get to school?
thanks