Twins allocated different schools!!!

[gem2809]

Hi all,

Does anybody have any advice for our situation?? Our twin boys have been allocated different primary schools. One of our boys has a statement for special needs and was allocated a place at our catchment school back in February, whereas his brother has been allocated our 3rd choice school, which is approx. 3.25 miles across town!! We believe we have a strong case to appeal this but any advice would be handy!!

Thanks

I'm a bit soft when it comes to twins being separated in school. I think it's mean to separate them unless they specifically want to be.

Going off on a bit of a tangent here as there seem to be some knowledgeable people on the thread - can anyone confirm whether the story of twins born either side of midnight on 31 Aug and 1 Sept, and having to be in different school years, is true? or is it an urban legend?

Slightly off topic but if a reception class has 32 children in it - they just need a full time extra member of staff - is that correct?

BestBefore - In these days of tight budgets, I'm not sure it's "just" a matter of employing another member of staff! (And, to the best of my memory, it has to be a second teacher, not a teaching assistant).

Melpomene - Those birth dates would ordinarily put the girls in different school years, but as they are still tiny who's to say what will actually happen? The spokesman for the LEA seemed to be hinting that they would be pragmatic about it.

It does indeed have to be a second teacher, not a TA.

Melpomene - splitting them would be bureaucracy gone mad and a sign that the education authority is run by imbeciles. I vote give them both the following year (ie following the later twin's birthday), as developmentally it will benefit them both. The County Council spokesman did seem to hint they might take a more sensible approach rather than just following the letter of the law blindly.

I still think it's bonkers that a council cannot guarantee that multiples (twins/triplets/quadruplets) won't be split up. As a taxpayer it really bugs me!

Surely though mel that wouldn't matter because you don't have to send them until they're five so you could hold one twin back a school year so they both go together. I think that would work

In our LA like one of the above it is sibs first (after looked after and SEN) and then twins and then distance. This is surely the perfect solution. Since I have never heard of a school than only took sibs (no distance kids at all) then twins are always together.

I feel for you OP, what a pain. I hope something can be sorted out.

Re: Twins born 31st Aug/1st Sept.

I'm almost sure I read at least twenty years ago of such a case, and in that instance the then LEA let the younger twin start school in the same year as the older one. Pre-internet days so can't confirm that, but I do seem to remember it being mentioned as a special case.

Locally, twins were indeed split between two schools, because their intended school had TWO sets of triplets in the reception intake that year. Sometimes life's a bugger.

vintage - but one twin would have to go straight into yr1 while the other one started in yr.

Any sane authority would allow the parents to choose which 'year' the twins would go to school in.

hocus - you're right - whoops.

FingandJeffing - That's interesting. Is the policy popular or well-supported locally?

Round here, I think there would be riots if it was suggested that twins and multiples should be admitted, in effect, to the school of their choice (I'm assuming that there no other criteria for twins/multiples) while singletons have to wait in line for any places remaining. Doesn't it create all sorts of anomalies if the twins live further away than the singletons who've been refused places?

I can see the logic of keeping twins together but that policy sounds highly contentious to me.

Could your child with SEN go to the school that his twin has been allocated? Then they could be together.

I share Panelmember's fascination. I'd love to know where this is and how local parents feel about it.

Hiya Panelmember.

There are anomalies as you suggest that twins living further away will get in while singletons will not.

Here is the policy from the web:

'Rule 5 Nearest School: Children for whom it is their nearest community or
voluntary-controlled school.
For infant class entry if more children qualify under Rule 5 than places
available, priority will be given first to twins/multiple births and then to those
who live nearest to the school. For all other years (not subject to KS1
legislation) it will be those nearest to the school.'

So i think it has to be your nearest school to get this advantage, I don't think it works on rule 6 which is just done by distance.

As far as I'm aware as I'm aware there have been no riots! Schools round here are very oversubscribed so there is potential I guess. I have no twins and didn't get my first choice (or in fact my second!) but I'm fine with it. I have always thought having twins can be a massive strain on the family, costs, childcare and health issues are more common so I think it's only fair occassionally the balance is in their favour.

Should you google the phrase the first hits are the LEA from where this policy comes. I should also say that you have to read it all pretty carefully. I don't think it is in the main body of the admissions code - sort of an add on and I think perhaps many parents are unaware of it.

Hertfordshire do this. I don't know what would happen if you were miles out of the oversubscribed catchment area and got your multiples in over a singleton who lived closer. But realistically how often would that happen? This isn't a county with a high number of tiny catchments afaik so maybe it would be a problem in more densely populated areas.

Ah. Has been explained. Thank you!

hocuspontas

In my town 10-15 familes are having their children taxied to the next town this year (3-5 miles away depending on where you live). We live in a town with 11 primary schools all full this year, even the previously unpopular undersubscribed ones. I think we must live at opposite ends because there are certainly children this year in a less than desirable situation. One school the distance measurement was less than 300m from the school gate to get in. Still no riot though :)

gem - how's it going?, have you been able to find out about the waiting list yet? when my dd was due to start school, we moved house and area at what was possibly the worst time when it comes to school applications. we could not submit our form for the new area until well after the closing date so had no option but to go straight to the waiting list and sit it out. dd was 9th, and did get a place at our first choice school. i was quite surprised with the amount of movement on the waiting list, appeal aside, there's a chance your other twin may still get a place.

Crikey Fing that's terrible. I live close to the Essex border and although the closest major town has oversubscribed primaries I don't think it's ever been bad enough to ferry children to another town. Don't LAs look ahead, look at children in pre-schools and nurseries and plan for bulge years any more?