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Original poster

I sent back my preference form late! Can anyone help?

23 replies

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 00:58

Hi all

I sent back the preference form for my daughter 7 days late....... It is a late application and will not be considered by the LA.

My son is alread in year 1 and we live 0.23 miles from the school. We have an appeal on the 20th May on the grounds that the LA acted in an unacceptable way. Does anyone have any advice on how to win?

I've never known stress like it!!!

Siobhan x

OP posts:

Jaquelinehyde · 02/05/2009 01:03

I hate to sound negative, but I can't see them being to sympathetic because it is down to you putting the form in late.

I suspect that you would have got a place without fail had you handed it in on time.

Probably not what you wanted to hear. Sorry

Good luck anyway.

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 01:06

Surely it can't be as simple as that? Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 'public bodies must consider the best interests of the child when making decisions'. A bit wooly I know, but the right of the child nevertheless!

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Jaquelinehyde · 02/05/2009 01:10

I agree Shuvva totaly, but for them to be able to do this fairly the forms have to be back on time.

It's an odd one for me, I have sympathy for you, but then don't have sympathy for you because this is your own doing.

**Please do tell me if there we serious circs that stopped the return of the form.

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 01:12

Ummmm, no, human error! Apart from being a Mum, wife, employee and full time student on placement! I've been honest from the start and held my hands up to being a tad forgetful!!!

OP posts:

Jaquelinehyde · 02/05/2009 01:16

Yes I know how that feels! I do sympathise.

However I would avoid going down the Rights of the Child thingy, because they would unfortunately just tell you that if it were in the best interests of the child then the forms should have been returned on time.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh and I hope that someone can help who has positive advice for you. I'm just trying to be realistic.

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 01:19

Well the rights of the child article is about the responsibility of the public body, not the parent......

But I take on board what you say which just makes me think that the whole school admissions process is about forms and not children.

OP posts:

Jaquelinehyde · 02/05/2009 01:28

Oh I know, I know, don't get me wrong I'm not trying to get your back up or offend you.

I am mearly trying to show you that if you go in being all aggressive - childs best interest this, school admissions process that. Then you will get nowhere imo.

However, if you go in grovelling explain your mistake, take full responsibility etc then they will be more inclined to try and help out if they can

It sounds like you have done that anyway, but a bit more can't hurt. Keep trying but get yourself on waiting lists asap just incase.

Good Luck.

catwalker · 02/05/2009 12:57

I agree with Jaquelinehyde. You've made the mistake - a really major one. It's no good starting an argument about OTHER people acting in the best interests of your child when you've failed to do so. The LEA isn't behaving in an unacceptable manner. All local authorities have rules about school applications being in on time, and if they're not then you go to the back of the queue. How else are they meant to process all the applications and get decision letters out on time?

However, given your proximity to the school and the fact that you already have a child there it would seem reasonable for an exception to be made. But if I were on the Appeal Panel I would be sympathetic if you held your hands up, said how upset you were when you realised you'd missed the deadline, and asked the Panel not to make your child suffer because of your oversight. I wouldn't be sympathetic if you came in spouting the UN Convention - it looks too much like you're trying to deflect attention from your own mistake. I'd probably also, if I were you, make a big thing about how close your daughter is to your son and how she's nervous about starting school and having big bro around would help her settle in (doesn't have to be true!)

kiddiz · 02/05/2009 13:36

I don't know how flexible reception classes are allowed to be with numbers (it's a few years since mine were that age)but surely if all the places have been allocated to people who did send their forms in on time then unless one of those children doesn't take their place they would have to retract the offer of a place to another child in order to accomodate your dd. Although I am sympathetic, being married to a man who is incapable of ever sending anything back on time....the only time we've ever paid interest on our credit card is when he was in charge of paying it (I was in hospital) and failed to do so on time. It would be very unfair on the other child. I think your best bet is the approach that jaquelinehyde suggested and put her name down on the waiting list if you haven't already done so.

Lulumama · 02/05/2009 13:39

totally agree with catwalker and jacqueline.. a bit of humility will go further than UN convention

good luck

TheLadyofShalott · 02/05/2009 13:39

I don't think the 'best interests of the child' thing would work anyway, because the council also have to take into account the best interests of the other children who have applied in time and got places.

SecretSlattern · 02/05/2009 13:55

Sorry, but how can you forget to return the form which will hopefully secure your child's school place, regardless of the things you have going on in your life? How long does it take to fill in the form and return it? I find this bizarre. Surely this decision is one of the most important you can make for your child at that time? Would the deadline date not be ingrained into your brain?

"Well the rights of the child article is about the responsibility of the public body, not the parent......"

Well that's ok then. You make the mistake and then expect the LA to fix it for you.

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 14:19

I don't really think that there is any point in critising me for my mistake. Yes, I made a mistake, I hold my hands up to that. No the date was not ingrained in my head, maybe that makes me a crap mother but I don't think so.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I think that you're right and a bit of grovelling could be the best avenue.

OP posts:

Jaquelinehyde · 02/05/2009 16:26

Good Luck Shuvva. Let us know how you get on, I would be interested to see how this turns out.

Yes I am nosey

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 16:57

That makes two of us! I'll keep you informed.

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carocaro · 02/05/2009 17:22

eeeks. happened to a mum at our school, she was EXTREMELY luckly as three families declined their place and she was next on the list.

Yes the UN thing is not going to go down well. If they have any spaces that come up I am sure you will get one, but if not you are stuffed I'm afraid, as they won't turf one out just because you were late and live nearer.

Harsh but true. Good luck.

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 17:24

I'm pretty sure that someone will not take up their place. I'll just have to wait and see.

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lucykate · 02/05/2009 17:31

i'm sorry i can't answer in a more positive way, but this happened to a family at dd's school last year, form was late. they had to go on the waiting list, and unfortunately for them, a place did not come up as he was so far down the list. so school started last september, and he stayed in the pre-school (he was still 4). they were offered places at other local schools, but as this one was the one his sibling went to, they decided to decline.

at christmas, someone left. and as, at this point, he was at the top of the waiting list, he finally got the place. a place couldn't be offered sooner, as the school takes 40, and 40 places already offered, and the waiting list already begun when their application form arrived. they did appeal, but that was also declined on the basis, that he had been offered a school place, it just wasn't at the school they wanted.

the only positive thing i can say, is the year dd started school, she didn't have a place due to us moving house to a different area altogether in july. we were number 9 on the waiting list that year, and we did get offered a place.

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 17:57

So did he statrt in rececption half way through the year? I suppose my daughter could stay in nursery as she is not 5 until August 2010.

OP posts:

lucykate · 02/05/2009 19:02

yes, he started after christmas. the mum was talking of home schooling if a place didn't come up as an alternative to having to do school runs to 2 different schools.

LadyMuck · 02/05/2009 19:18

Presumably as your child has a sibling t the school then you are likely to be top fo the waiting list. Of course you should appeal. How far away is the school that you have been allocated?

CarGirl · 02/05/2009 19:22

This has happened to friend, even worse though she applied on time on-line and didn't realise until after the deadline that she hadn't got any sort of confirmation email - the application had got lost through the internet etc etc

Still no point in appealing she is top of the waiting list though.

Original poster

Shuvva · 02/05/2009 19:59

LadyMuck - I was not allocated another school, I could express a preference, which I have done now. The school is approx 1.5 miles, I reckon. The frustrating thing is that our school is traditionally undersubscribed, many people from this community send their children to school in the next area.
But this year the brand new school building is due to open hence the sudden popularity. Very annoying for us as both the kids are currently being educated in portacabins next to the new school build.

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