Appealing to get 2 children into primary school closest to us

[pindy]

Hi

I hope someone can help on this, my friend has just adopted 2 children and they will be starting school in september. Their closest and preferred school has just informed them they they have not got in!

Please can I have some pointers as to what should be put in appeal letter which hopefully will help, if anyone has a copy of a successful appeal letter I would be most grateful if I could see it.

Many, many thanks for your help.

X

To be honest I suspect she has missed the boat for this september unless spaces suddenly appear (unlikely?). Even the appeals will probably have taken place already. How old are they?

the children are 5 & 6

does it not make a difference that they are being adopted? Need friends nearby that go to the same school etc etc?

cant see what difference it makes them being adopted

they will be put on a waiting list - registration was probably way back in december

try schoolsappeal.co.uk. I think it cost me a fiver last year to download lots of useful information and practical advice.

I (unsuccessfully) appealled last year, but we got in on the waiting list. It took time, and I would have homeschooled until a place came up. The school were prepared to support me in this, so if your friend really wants the children to go there, do approach the school directly and talk to them about what they can offer in the meantime.

Hope the children get in

Our appeals had to be in in May. Will be heard in July I think.
TBH having looked at the form I decided not to. Tis our closest school, but just becase of that, soesn't mean there aren't lots of people nearer than me, and the legislation is that reception classes are capped at 30.
Our local policies are that once places become available, they are offered to those highest on the list, but that newcomers (people moving closer than others on the list) go up the list.
The only grounds for appeal here seem to be:

1. The decision was unreasonable insofar as the school/LEA didn't apply their admissions policy correctly, and if they had, the children would have got in.
2. Can't remember the wording but was something like strong social/educational reasons had not been taken into account in the admissions process. Neither of which applied to me - was jsut unlucky that this year there are lots of children dd's age who live closer.

Our appeals had to be in in May. Will be heard in July I think.
TBH having looked at the form I decided not to. Tis our closest school, but just becase of that, soesn't mean there aren't lots of people nearer than me, and the legislation is that reception classes are capped at 30.
Our local policies are that once places become available, they are offered to those highest on the list, but that newcomers (people moving closer than others on the list) go up the list.
The only grounds for appeal here seem to be:

1. The decision was unreasonable insofar as the school/LEA didn't apply their admissions policy correctly, and if they had, the children would have got in.
2. Can't remember the wording but was something like strong social/educational reasons had not been taken into account in the admissions process. Neither of which applied to me - was jsut unlucky that this year there are lots of children dd's age who live closer.

If they have particular special requirements e.g. are still under care of Social Services (e.g. for previous abuse/ neglect etc)then they MAY qualify ahead of 'ordinary' children. A call to the local Education Authority would probably help clarify?

special needs may make a difference at appeal. Your friend really needs to talk to the local council if that's who runs the admissions, appeal panels may have sat already.

It may be that her children can be given priority over the waiting list if there are special needs or circumstances but no places left.

Sorry for double post. The class sizes are capped at 30 for Reception, year 1 and year 2. Only in year 3 can schools take more children in a class, and generally they prefer not to.

Where are the other schools in the area? We are less than half a mile from the one we didn't get into, and a mile from the one we got. The only persuasive reason I've got for appealing (and it wouldn't count) is that dd currently attends the pre-school at the preferred school, and ds will be attending from next September. But these would not be adequate grounds for appeal (the pre-school does not directly feed into the reception of the host school).

thanks for the info so far, will contact her and ask if she has been in touch with the admissions people at the local council.

Thanks

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Is it an overseas adoption?

If not, then your friend needs to discuss this with her adoption agency and social worked who will be able to assist in suuporting her appeal. I assume that the adoption wouldn't have been finalised yet, so the children would count as "in care" until that time.

The LEA still has to find them a suitable school - presumably your friend has been offered a school?

Not an overseas adoption, and as you say they will still be "in care" until the adoption becomes final.

Thanks for the info will pass it on to her.

If they are 'in care' then they are a priority.
And even if they are not emotional stability of children adopted as children rather than babies counts.
One of DS's friends, in our highly over-subscribed school, was adopted aged 3 and is classed as having emotional needs. She lives beyond the usual proximity boundaries but got in on the grounds of needing a small school I think. Community stability and ablility to continue school friendships into home time, would be important, i would think.

Seek advice from people in adoption networks? Is there a special site for adoptive parents?

Also, she should make sure that both children are on the waiting list for the school - places do come up, even in the first week of term when people haven't bothered to let a school know they are not taking up the place! And once one child gets in the other will be a priority as a sibling.

Thank you - all good useful stuff.

X