Help needed!

[Jonson2024]

Has anyone had experience of family court deciding a school application?
I’ve spent the last year researching, selecting and preparing my 4-year-old for the transition from nursery to Reception. We’ve attended five taster sessions at a school, he’s been offered a place and is enrolled to start in September.
His father has objected at every stage. Every time I address one of his concerns or meet one of his demands, he comes up with another reason to withhold consent. I reached the point where I felt he was simply trying to control the situation, so I’ve applied to the family court for a Specific Issue Order to determine which school he should attend.
Has anyone been through this? What should I expect in court, and is there anything in particular I should focus on when explaining my case?

Sounds like a right pain OP, sorry. No experience but surely they will go with what is best for the child.

What does your ex want to happen about schooling? Has he got an alternative idea or just wants to stick a spanner in the works?

If you’ve followed the process and are acting in your child’s best interest and it’s a good school, local, meets his needs etc - family court will just be a formality and he will just make himself look like a twat!
get ready for this moment OP he sounds a nightmare!

The choice is between an independent school (and everything that they can offer) which 12 miles (17 minutes drive) from father’s house (actually closer to him than me!) I have agreed to take on all the fees, (his original object) now that has been agreed he is now raising logistics (for his one drop of and pick up a week) and the extra holidays to take on.

His argument is he wants the state school allocation which is 4 miles away, 12 minutes drive)

And am wondering how I present a stronger case

How will you handle the longer holidays and childcare? What do you expect of the father?

How will you handle the longer holidays and childcare? What do you expect of the father?

I just want him to continue what he’s doing now, the one collection and drop off, so that I can carry on working. But he’s saying he won’t do that. ( I am happy to take on all fees, and the extra holidays and all I have asked for is him to buy him the uniform (which he had already agreed to and continue his commitment set out in the child arrangements order.

So he won't have to sort more childcare for holidays or anything else if the child attends public school?

No, I just want him to do what he already does.