Please help- place withdrawn!

[StellarforStarofAfrica]

DD has had her place withdrawn for our 1st choice school, on the basis that her foster sibling won't be starting in their nursery until January, and not September.

They have just picked this up now due to an internal audit, and for the last 6 weeks, we've been telling her she's going to the school attached to the nursery she's been attending.

I am devastated. Not only has she missed the first appeals date, she is now probably at the bottom of the waiting list, all because of an admin issue at the admissions office.

The admin officer I have spoken to was very lovely, and explained all the protocol to me, but I am still fuming! Ther is NO WAY she is going to go to the school they have allocated her, she wouldn't last a week there, so it's either get through to first choice on appeal (I have no idea how likely this is) or home ed (gulp) which I have no idea of how to do.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so, how did you get through it?

Sorry this is a bit of a stream of consciousness, but I am really shocked and upset.

Oh my god, holding for two hours, love it.

You could try ( by email) to get a meeting with her, anytime at her convenience. Must be a slot in her diary.

It will all Help to show how obstructive she is being!

Your end goal is to show at appeal how unhelpful, obstructive, unreasonable they are compared to you, Little miss reasonable, trying desperately to be accomodating and calm.

Send a letter by registered post with a copy to Bosslady's boss detailing the dates and times you have tried to contact her and ask for a formal appointment to discuss the situation as they have failed to give you a date for your appeal.

Hi Stellar,

I was hoping for good news when I checked in but alas it wasn't to be. I really can't emphasise enough how important it is to keep a written record of every conversation (or not as the case is here!), telephone call, time/date etc. It will help in the long run & as Chazs says a letter sent by registered mail is a lot harder to be ignored, she will ultimately have to explain why you were persistently ignored & this situation wasn't dealt with immediatley. I hope its good news next time I check in.

Is the LEA is part of your local Council?

If so ring the Head of the Council to complain! That might get some response

Hi stella ..lurkin and checkin...and cant believe it !!!![shocked]

Wish i had some wonderful advice for you ...but i don't ...sorry ..

So no help at all ..just i am thinking of you...

Checking in everyday for the next installment....... Better than the telly!!!

Keep in there and hold fast!!!!

By the way, I am off for a few days and no internet link tomorrow, I bet you it will all start happening then.

Best of luck.

I'm really sorry to hear that this is still going on. I would have hoped that you would have won by now. Big virtual hug. (I know that online hugging isn't the thing to do. But I really feel for this. I think it's horrible. And I want you to win.)

Goodness me! They Really are an obstinate LA!
I'm very much like you & won't give up I know I'm right about something. Suspect you're already keeping notes but I think the 'getting someone else to call' is a brilliant idea, as is saying you'll hold till bosslady's free.

You will succeed, but unfortunately you're going to have to play the long game.

Back to lurking.....

!!! BREAKING NEWS JUST IN !!!

Well, I have an appeal date- 26th July!

Almost 3 weeks away. I was so angry, I just had to say thank you and put the phone down to poor old Democratic Services guy.

Anyway, I was that fed up I just called the switchboard at the LA and asked to speak to the director. Obviously, they weren't going to put me through, but I kind of got cascaded down to the lead admissions officer, who tried to put me through to Bosslady.

I told him I didn't really want to speak to her because she is blatantly ignoring me and actually incompetent , so he graced me with a telephone audience (aren't I lucky...)

I started at the beginning and when I got to the 'withdrawn after 8 weeks' part, he's all "oh, I am aware of this case," so I skipped the rest and we started with the good stuff.

I told him-

I am quite aware that bosslady is hoping that I am going to shut up and go away, but that is not going to happen. I am astounded that she has been so obstructive with regards to the information I have requested for my appeal; questions that require a simple yes or no answer.

I am not happy that the appeal date of the 26th is apparently the earliest date that Bosslady can do- really?

I am also aware that the LA is hoping that DD will either get through on the waiting list (she is at number 3) or that she will get through on appeal so that the LA is not 'guilty' of making class sizes bigger.

I am not happy that her appeal is 3 weeks away (see reasons above), that I have had to call them to get the date, and that I have not received the information on class sizes and whatever else they send you to prepare.

I told him that I have complained to the LGO and at the moment I am seriously considering writing to my MP and Michael Gove, because it is getting to the point where it is no longer just about the school place being withdrawn and the fact I am being forced to appeal, but the fact that I am being treated with utter contempt by Bosslady and the LA.

I have to go pick up the girls, will return shortly!

Wow! Well done Stellar!!

Am dying to know the response.

well done OP :)

fingers crossed that Bosslady the LA realise that they have no option but to reinstate your DD's place.

(Out of interest what date did you submit your appeal, they are supposed to hold the appeal within 40 school days of your submission.)

Oooh, thanks Betsy, it arrived 27th June, so they're still in the window.

Anyhow, Lead Admissions Officer's reply was-

I am doing all the right things with the appeal and LGO complaint.

He asked me what the questions I wanted answering were and I told him. He went a bit quiet and said he'd speak to Bosslady to get her to reply

He's going to speak to Bosslady and Democratic Services to see if he can do anything about the appeal date (and I suspect he can...)

He kept saying "oh, I understand you're anxious blah blah blah" so I told him I'm not being all PFB, I just want my school place back and that an appeal on the 26th July is no good- term ends on the 20th so she'll miss the chance for visits etc, and that it is no longer just about the school place.

He said he was going to 'check the movement on the waiting list,' and then asked me what I wanted to happen.

I just sad "I. want. my. school. place. back."

Poor guy, his ears must be buzzing.

Well I'm thrilled someone is listening to you at long last at the la, fingers crossed he uses his influence in your favour.

Sounds like bosslady is in for a shit day at work today!!! LMAO!!

Fingers crossed this guy will kick arse!!!

So is he Bosslady's boss?

if so sounds like Bosslady will not be having a good day today serves her right, self inflicted I hope you mentioned to him her slandering you at the earlier appeals too?

He is bosslady's boss.

I didn't mention her slandering me at the appeal actually, I should have done.

I hate to be so awful, but I really do hope she has a shit day.

Good news sort of - at least there's movement.

Did you include the slander in your complaint to the ombudsman?

yay glad there is movement, i wonder if you may get a call back once he looks at all the facts and then offers you your place back, esp as you were so clear wth him on the phone. it IS black and white they shouldnt be removing your place, if he has half a brain he will review your case and then give you your place back and apologise profusely!

He has called back.

No place reinstatement, the appeal date is still the 26th, and apparenlty he has read the application form and can understand "from the wording" how his colleague "has awarded a place in error."

I told him that I DID NOT DECLARE A SIBLING LINK and that the information I put about DFD hopefully attending the nursery was IN THE OTHER INFORMATION BOX.

How clear does it need to be?

So, I asked him for a copy of my form, and he said he wasn't sure they would be able to do that. I pointed out to him that if it is a web based application it should be on a database; they can screenshot it and e-mail it to me, no? He's also seen a copy of it so the information must be somewhere...

I didn't include the slander in the LGO complaint, but I mentioned it to him on the phone a minute ago; he didn't say anything about that.

Might I add that I have also only got a date for the appeal, not a time, and apparently Bosslady is on leave today, so I won't get anything until middle of next week at the earliest.

It's absolutely shocking.

I'm off to write to my MP.

WHAAAAAAAT??

That is terrible. The appeal should be a slam dunk but what a bunch of clowns!!

Ps should you email him back thanking him for the acknoedgementvthat his colleague made a mistake (ie NOT you)? Maybe an expert can comment?

That word was acknowledgement!

ffs what are they playing at! yes the bloody well CAN send you a copy of your application, it doesnt take much effort to print one out.

with regards to them offering you a aplce in error, i think taht may be partly because the rules regarding school placements for fosters children and adoptive etc have changed recently. but regardless of that it is their mistake and they left it too long before realising and correcting it, so THEIR fault!

do mention to th elgo that she was basically slanderous in the appeals meeting and highlight how incompetent and rude they have been and YES get your mp involved.

if a lay person such as mself can read the guildlines and SEE taht they are in the wrong, how the fuck do they think they can get away with this, they REALLY thought you were just going to say 'oh ok' and meekly accept their decision to take away your place!! FOOLS!!

Glad to hear you're starting to get somewhere. Write promptly to your MP and local council before they disappear over the summer...