Another appeals thread - please help us!

[gilldaviesiom]

Hi

Would be really, really grateful for any comments that anybody might have for us to help us.

Our eldest daughter, Caitlin, is currently at school B in a Nursery Class in the Isle of Man. She is thoroughly enjoying her time at school and settled very quickly. However, where we live is actually just inside the cathcment for a different school A. If we lived on the other side of the road with a big garden then we would be in teh catchment for school B!!!

We actually moved to our home in a bit of a rush after we had a still born daughter in 2008 and did not make the necessary enquiries when we were moving home, otherwise if we had looked properly then we would have looked into all of the school catchment areas then we would have moved more firmly within the correct catchment area. We have looked into formally moving into the catchment area and have had our house valued in the last couple of weeks, but unfortunately it is just not financially viable for us to do this presently.

When we originally contacted School A in May 2009 we found out that they were only able to offer Caitlin two morning sessions of nursery, whereas Ballacottier had space for Caitlin and could also offer her the five mornings that we felt she needed. Caitlin's date of birth is 30th September 2006, so she is one of the oldest in her class and we felt that as an older child she would need the more mornings.

A very important part of Caitlin, though something that we do not define her by is that she was born with a very serious heart condition, Pulmonary Artesia with a Ventricular Septal Defect, which will affect her for the rest of her life. We always disclose this in her school applications. The night that she was born she was transferred to Special Care Baby Unit and then flown by air ambulance to Alder Hey Children's hospital where she had her first heart surgery at just ten days old. She then underwent open heart surgery in January 2009 at Evelina Children's Hospital in London. She actually missed the first week of school as she was having another operation on her heart in London. Caitlin has had five operations in her little life so far, and numerous hospital appointments with doctors and nurses both on and off island. This is an on-going condition, which will require further surgery as she grows and so she is monitored closely by Evelina Children's Hospital and Nobles Hospital. She is fortunately doing very well at the moment and we are hoping and praying that this will continue for a long time, but we also have to be realistic and accept that Caitlin will need further surgery as she grows. Her experiences from birth have made her exceptionally wary of new people, places and situations and it usually takes her a long time to adjust and trust people. Likewise, it takes a lot for us as her parents to trust people to look after her. We were very surprised and delighted when Caitlin settled so quickly at school B as this never usually happens in new situations. We have been extremely happy with School B and also feel reassured that she is so close to home if anything may happen to her, which is always in the back of our minds. Caitlin has had to be air-lifted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital twice in her short life and we hope this doesn't ever have to happen again.

We fully understand that Caitlin could only attend School B if there was a place for her. We had asked in the school office at the beginning of last term if she would receive a place for Reception and we were told that it was looking good and if she had been in Reception this year, then she would have been offered a place. In January we were advised by the school that the likelihood of her receiving a place in Reception this year, September 2011 was very unlikely, as the plans are to have one larger class for Reception for children within the catchment area and children who already have a sibling in the school. Obviously we understand that plans and circumstances can change decisions and we understand that Caitlin can't take the place of a child who resides within the catchment of the school. When we were told that the chances of Caitlin receiving a place in September were unlikely, then we immediately wrote a letter to the current Head teacher, who arranged a meeting with us. He told us that financial cut-backs are being made and so there will only be one Reception Class from September 2011, instead of the usual two classes for Reception. This obviously means that fewer children can be accepted and there are already enough children within catchment and children with a sibling already at the school, to fill the class. We explained that we feel strongly about Caitlin going to School B and feel that it would be emotionally detrimental to move her to another school and so we would like to try all available options, to try and get her a place at School B.

Caitlin has made some special friends in her class, likes her teachers, the school environment and is enjoying telling us every day about the new things she has learnt. A few months ago, she brought home a picture which she had written her name on, which is the first time she has ever been able to do this. This was a very proud moment for us. Her confidence and independence has increased hugely from starting school in September and I can honestly say this is down to her teachers and School B.

I have also phoned School A to enquire as to whether they are close to capacity and they confirmed that they were. School B was the only option for Caitlin for Nursery as School A was only offering two mornings a week, which just wouldn't have been enough for her and School B could offer five mornings. Caitlin obviously has a medical condition and although School B doesn't offer facilities on a physical nature for her condition, it is from a psychological view that School B is the best option for her. Caitlin has been through so much trauma already in her life that I feel a school move now would be very detrimental to her psychological well being and education. As we say, Caitlin has a lot of trust issues with people, as I'm sure you can understand, so now that we have found somewhere she is so happy and settled we would be devastated to have to take her elsewhere and have to re-start the settling process and see her unhappy.

We genuinely thought that Caitlin would be offered a place for Reception, and so we were disappointed when I was told that this probably won't be the case. I know we were very naive and presumptuous in thinking she would be offered a place and it has always been made clear by the school that this doesn't always happen. Two of our close neighbours, just a few doors away from us, have their daughters in School B and so we thought that we would be lucky like them, in receiving a place.

In summary, our points are: -
1.) As supported by the letter from Caitlins Consultant, she has settled surprisingly well at School B and we all honestly feel that this is the best place for her to continue to develop.
2.) As mentioned, we have a very real concern that Caitlin would not settle in a new school,
3.) Caitlin started at School B because School A could only offer her two mornings a week, whereas School B could offer the five mornings
4.) Where we live is really close and we have friends on our street whose children already attend school B, again I am conscious that each year is different.
5.) We have spoken to many of the other parents, who are all more than happy for Caitlin to continue at the school.

Sorry for the really, really long explanation, but as you can see this is really, really important to us. We have an appeal meeting next Thursday, would anybody have any comments for what else we could try to say?

It has actually been really helpful to write this, so that has been good to start with. We would be really grateful for any comments.

Thanks!!

Gill
X

You are talking about the Isle of Man which is totally different situation from England.
As far as I can make out a new bill was passed this last year, the Catchment Area Order, which defines the catchment zone for each school and in effect says you will go the catchment school, whether you like it or not. There is obviously an appeal system as you are going to it next week but I have no knowledge about how it works.
What I would say to you is that in England your situation would probably be considered sympathetically providing that the infant class size regs did not come into play. I think you are saying all the right things but without having good knowledge of the system on the IOM, this can only be based on what is pertinent in england. The key issue is that the letter from the consultant is their words and not your words, that is, it does not say Mrs X tells me that Caitlin.... It needs to say in my opinion, which in England would carry a fair amount of weight in any decision to admit.

The Policy and Guidance (available from the Dept for Education and Children website) says

For planning purposes and the allocation of staff, the Department regards a mainstream primary class size of 25 pupils as acceptable. Consequently, a school?s indicative maximum number of pupils is calculated by multiplying the number of mainstream classrooms by 25, except in exceptional cases where there are some classrooms smaller than standard which could only physically accommodate, say, 22 pupils. The school?s indicative maximum figure would be adjusted accordingly. However, individual class sizes may rise to, or in excess of, 30 when space and other factors allow. The Department will regard a class as being ?full? when it numbers 30, and any class over this number to be acceptable only if the additional pupils over 30 have been admitted from within the school?s catchment area. Given that some classrooms in certain buildings are small, however, the Department would regard a lower figure than 30 as being ?full? in such cases.

(...)

?OUT OF CATCHMENT AREA? ADMISSIONS
Parents may apply for an ?out of catchment area? place at any Island primary school.

However, it is the Department?s policy not willingly to overcrowd schools and the indicative maximum number of pupils approved for each school will therefore only be exceeded if ?

? the number of pupils living within the school?s catchment area exceeds this figure, or

? the Department itself directs a pupil or pupils to the school.

In consequence, other than in exceptional circumstances, applications for places for children who are resident outside the catchment area of a school will usually be refused if the relevant class is already full (as defined earlier) or if it is approaching 30 pupils and further children living within the catchment area are expected to be enrolled during the course of the academic year.

Where parents choose to request an ?out of catchment area? place for their child, they will be required to meet any costs incurred in transporting their child to and from the school.

If a family leaves the catchment area of the school which their child attends, the child may remain at that school if his or her parents wish, or may transfer to the school serving the area to which they are moving.

Attendance at an ?out of catchment area? primary school does not confer the right to attend, at a later stage, the associated secondary school.

Presumably, then, you were refused a place at your first choice school because it is full, or expected to be full. It is not clear to me what scope (if any) there is for admitting a pupil on appeal if that would take the class above 25 or 30 pupils (this would be analogous to the infant class size regulations in England). I am sure the panel (assuming that appeals in the IOM are heard by a panel) will be sympathetic, but it sounds to me as if their hands may be tied if the class is already full. Your best course of action may be to probe how many children have been admitted and what is the indicative maximum for the class and for the school, in the hope of demonstrating that the class is not 'full'.

Hi Gill

I messaged you a few points, just wanted to add the last bit that I forgot: emphasise in what way her current school has been supportive during this illness and mention which teachers/headteacher/staff (eg dinner ladies) have been caring and state that you have been advised that it is significant for her physical wellbeing and academic development that she is reassured that she can continue to have the same adults around for support, instead of having to explain to new strangers what she can or can't do. And also that a new school doesn't get overanxious about her diagnosis and exclude her from every activity for fear of a relapse.

Good luck for next Thurs, I am sure that I am only one of many on MN who wishes you every success and that you both get it. Let us know how it turns out.

I'm sorry i don't have any information to add but you might want to revise your original post as you have made your daughter completely identifiable by using her name and (inadvertently, I think) mentioning her school name.

Yes, I was going to say the same as Annh. I guess the IOM is a small community and you have given a lot of personal information.

You have a good case for appeal Gill. I sucessfully appealed DD1's primary and secondary places. Use everything you can. Take a list in with you and any documentation you have. Also it doesnt hurt to get emotional through the meeting. Are you on the waiting list for the school you want, and if so is there likely to be movement?

No advice as know nothing but please get your post changed as you are giving away far too much personal information on an internet forum that can be read by anyone.

Hello, I agree with the others and wanted to wish you luck with your appeal. I think you really need to know exactly how many children are expected to start at School B in September (at this point in time). My sister's daughter has been offered a place at an out of catchment school, she lives in Port Erin but has chosen a school in Colby (am sure you know which they are !!) She is fortunate in that the Colby school is undersubscribed this year, but as I understand it, if people move into the area before a set date (maybe even September !) then she could be "bumped" and have to go to her catchment school which is massive. So, it seems to me that the Isle of Man is much more flexible on deadlines, and handing out school places. As it is, my sister's chosen school only has 18 definites for September, and they will go to 25, and possibly more, so she is reasonably safe. I think if you plead your daughter's case, she may well get a place at School B if the school will go to 26.

I grew up on the Isle of Man, I find it hard here in the UK when I have to put my children's names on waiting lists for everything from Rainbows to sports courses, on the IoM you just phone up the preceding week and go !!

For thought, do both school A and school B feed the same Secondary School (I understand now that primary schools are linked to specific secondaries), I think St Ninians is probably a more popular choice than Ballakermeen........

Where's OP gone?