Do I have a hope in hell if I appeal?

[PollyPants]

That's what I would like to know really and what it entails.

My daughter (4th born) has been refused our catchment lower school, she is the youngest of four. My middle (3rd) and eldest go to school via council paid transport to a nearby town and my second born is very severely disabled and goes to school 20 miles away. The third born went to the local school but will leave this year before the youngest starts, or would have started. But anyway, we have been refused a place.

The reasons for choosing the school are;

we have social service involvement because of our v disabled child who attends a very high level need special school 20 miles away, we need community support (and our friends) in order to be able to look after all our children. If I have appointments I am able to ask friends at the moment to have th younger one and I felt that could continue. I cannot afford childminders etc as I don't know when the appointments are, if my other child will be admitted to hospital etc and wehave no family close at all.

I don't have a car and cannot drive, the catchment school is the only school i can walk to given the transport restrictions adding to the others childrens schools

my daughter is classed as a young carer, she has emotional support off an advocate agency and part of keeping her emotional needs met I feel she needs to attend our catchment school with people she knows (her peers from pre school) and within a community which supports her. The school in catchment also knows the family's needs as we are known to them

The practicalities for me and her father are going to be a nightmare tbh with the school they have offered (which wasn't even preferred) and we are already at breaking point due to the nature of our family.

I am not sure whether I have put enough info really, but don't want to drone on needlessly

If they have used the distance by road rather than the straight line distance that would be surprising but would be a clear mistake based on the information posted by Admission. To be honest it is more likely that they have measured the straight line distance from the wrong address. You need to get confirmation of the distance used and see if that looks credible.

At least you're feeling calmer about it now, I hope it gets sorted - you may still have to appeal though even if they've made a mistake and they have to give you a place so lodge the appeal IYSWIM.

If they have somehow measured using road distances then there is a potentially massive problem because this will not be isolated, they tend to do all the measuring at once not on an individual basis. That would suggest that all measurements are wrong and utter chaos will ensure.

I have finally managed to speak to the council today but I still do not have written confirmation. We didn't get the catchment place because of a higher number of applications than spaces and a child with more priority got given a place above us. I was told that we are 5th out of TEN children in catchment on the waiting list

The lady at the council did say as we haven't got our catchment school it looks like we are eligible for school transport and will receive a letter about that too, but do you still get transport for reception year?

Anyway, i have made an appointment to look around the allocated school whist we appeal, but it looks unlikely anything will change so I am just trying to buck up! :o

Can i ask a question too. If we appeal can that change our place on the waiting list due to our circumstances or will the waiting list place still remain the same?

Yes, you get transport for Reception.

The appeal panel cannot change your position on the waiting list. The only decision they can make is whether or not to admit your child.

Given the admission criteria you have listed, the only way to move up the waiting list is to move closer to the school.

Yes it does seem that way