Need help changing primary schools

[Readyisknitting]

We moved over the summer to a village just outside the town I was in, but on the other side, iygwim.

Now I am trying to move my children to the village school, partly because keeping them at their current school is mad, it's 3.1 miles away by google maps. Getting them there costs £30 a week by car, £40 by bus (car is being repaired atm) and it is just not sustainable. Plus I want them to have local friends. Additionally DSS goes there, so for 2 mornings and 3 afternoons I am trying to be at 2 schools at once. Consequently we are paying for morning club, and a childminder for 2 of the afternoons. The village school is 0.2miles away, or just across the road!

Village school currently has no places, ds is in top place for y3, but dd1 has just gone down to 2nd for y1. There were 32 kids in y1 last time I spoke to the school. DD2 will be going there in Sept (place to be confirmed).

What can I do? I cannot continue this, it is madness, and I cannot afford it. We do not qualify for help with the costs because dp works.

You can appeal if you haven't done so already. Given the numbers in Y1 an appeal for DD1 is unlikely to succeed but that shouldn't stop you trying. You may be able to put together a decent case for DS as appeal panels have more flexibility in Y3.

You can also talk to the LA about free tranport. If your children are under 8 and it is more than 2 miles to their current school by the shortest walking route you are entitled to free transport unless the LA can offer you a place at a school nearer your home. For a child over 8 the distance has to be more than 3 miles to qualify. The fact that you moved away from the school is not relevant. However, note that the transport is only for your children. The LA will not pay for you to accompany them. If, for example, they lay on a taxi it will pick up your children in the morning and deliver them back in the afternoon but it won't take you to and from the school.

Thanks. I rang them and spoke to them and they said they couldn't do any transport because we were working, but sounds as if another call is needed. A taxi is prob the only option as currently we are getting the bus into town and then a half mile walk to the school. Is not so bad as it is past dd2's nursery, but that's nor really relevant.

I know an appeal is unlikely to succeed, but this is exhausting me. What would the best points to argue to maximize ky chances of a successful appeal?

Should add, we get free school meals, does that make a difference?

You say you are working, yet are in receipt of Free School Meals. Your income must be under £16K pa to fall in that category - which means that your LEA MUST treat you as if you are on income-related benefits for the purposes of free transport. Unless you are in one of the areas that gives free school meals for all.

You aren't under Essex LEA are you? It's just they have tried to pull that one on lots of people that fall in that category...

HTH.

I think the transport issue is confusing because you moved to the village and as such you moved further away from the school your children were already attending. As such I can see why the LA do not want to pay for your transport costs, they have not allocated you that school it was of your own choice.
What you need to do is ask for places in the local school and then ask for the nearest available school with places for ds and dd1. Hopefully that will be more than 2 miles away and possibly even their current school, at which point ask the admission office to confirm that in writing, which then can be the basis for a request for free transport.

As I say, an appeal for DD1 is unlikely to succeed. You would need to show that they have made a mistake in refusing to admit her. For an in year admission that is unlikely. However, it is always worth a try. You may get a sympathetic panel.

For DS you need to think about any features this school has which are missing from his current school and which would be beneficial for him. For example, if your son enjoys music and this school has more musical activities you can argue that this would be good for him. You can also try suggesting that going to the local school will help him integrate with the community and that his social development is being damaged - not a strong argument but worth a try.

For DS your chances of success depend on the strength of the case to refuse admission.

And agree with Admission regarding the approach to free transport.

Hi, and thanks for the advice.

I spoke again with the admissions dept as I emailed them wed for a progress check and was told dd2 is now 2nd on the waiting list for the village school, where she had been first. Ds is still first. We live on the doorstep almost, it's only a hundred yards or so away as the crow flies.

I am not in Essex, but we are in receipt of council tax benefit, which had given us free school meals, however the policy is changing and I will no longer qualify after Christmas.

From what I can make out, following my phone call today, and researching previous threads, is that I have a faint chance of getting ds in, but not dd1. Another closer school isn't really an option as Dss is already there, and it won't solve the childcare problem, and closer schools are still out of the village along a very busy main road.

The council made it clear that because I chose to move here, I have to lump it. I totally understand that on one level, I'm not asking them to magic spaces out of nowhere, but at the same time, I'm struggling with the cost of diesel.

Stuffed really, aren't I.

I can understand them taking that view regarding free transport but legally they are wrong. Unless they can offer you places for your children that are nearer than their current school they must provide free transport. That is the law. The fact that you moved away from the school is irrelevant. So no, you aren't stuffed.

And I would say that you have more than a faint chance for DS unless the school is already overcrowded. But yes, you would be lucky to win an appeal for DD1.