Please help- place withdrawn!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DD has had her place withdrawn for our 1st choice school, on the basis that her foster sibling won't be starting in their nursery until January, and not September.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

Was having a good chat with DD who is now 19. We talked about her earlier days at school or should I say I did because DD can't remember much about it!

I know it must be hard for you & DD particularly as her foster sister's schooling is sorted, but come September, when DD has spent a week in her reception class, the hassles it took to get her there will be forgotten at least by her. Suspect it will take longer for you & the local authority. This episode will go down as a right royal cock up in the LA's books!

Followed this all the way through though nothing useful to add other than to say I think you've been treated terribly.
Good luck with it all.

on the basis that she will most probalby get her place, she has to! can you not speak to the ht at the school and see if she can do a little visit? or will that confuse her more?

and they are not replying cos they know they have royally fucked up!

Keep going Stellar.

My DD starts school in September so I can imagine (a little) how you must be feeling at a time when everyone should be happy and excited at such a lovely and important milestone in a little girl's life, not worried and stressed.

I know you will win your DD's place back. But I hope you alse get a super grovelling apology as well.

Maryz they received the appeal on the twenty seventh of June, so that'... Oh, look at that, today is day ten and the post has just been.

Oh, no letter from the LA. Maybe they are all in a meeting.

prh47bridge also said that "They are required to notify you of the date and arrangements for the hearing at least 10 school days in advance. Note that it is school days, NOT working days. If schools in your LA break up on the 20th there are only 10 school days left after today. Leaving it until the middle of next week to send this information is a clear breach of the Appeals Code."

....so they are breaching the Appeals Code even more ! on your behalf.

stella I feel awful "lurking" here with absolutly no help or advice like the other mnters are giving ....but I do keep checking in to see how further you have got !
and just letting you know I am thinking of your dd and you and your dfd as she must have thought she was going to the same school as her big sister..

Soo angry for you ...but at least you have good help and advice on here x

you are fab. they are utter shite. that is all. (nothing useful to add)

Any news?

I'm totally rooting for you!

My blood pressure is up just reading this thread.

Best of luck, OP.

Any progress??

Soooo, me and DP have been talking.

DD has missed all her inductions for school, and on wednesday I went to have a look around the (second) second choice school, and you know what? It looked pretty good.

Because it's been opened for overspill, there's only 23 in each class, it's being refurbished, some of her friends are going there too and even the teacher seems nice.

We decided we were going to send her there (she's got an induction today and monday) and cancel the appeal. (I still wanted to go to prove them wrong, but it's wasting a lot of people's time)

However I got a call from the LGO this morning... Apparently the LA have reinstated her place! They have closed my complaint, but are continuing their dialogue with the LA as the LGO also believe that the 2012 code does not apply until 2013 admissions, and that this has probably affected some other children.

So, Mumsnet Members, we are VICTORIOUS in our mission to prove the LA are wrong, for the reason we said, they have been acting like a bunch of petulant toddlers, not wanting to give up their toys and as a result, Mummy has come and taken them away.

I was a little bit frightened this morning though, when I rang the Admissions office and told them I wanted to keep her place at the other school .

I did point out that if they hadn't put me off and dragged their feet over the whole thing then I and themselves wouldn't be in this position anyway, because now I look like an awkward PFB mum!

I would just like to say thank you to you all, because you have been amazing. There is no way I would have got this far without you all, and if I could give you all a massive box of chocolates, I would!

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!

Congratulations! I have lurked and been amazed by the stupidity of their head in the sand behaviour! I am so glad they have been sorted out, well done for sticking up for your daughter so well.

Well done I am glad you have a happy outcome!

I kept checking this thread. I'm so pleased that you got a satisfying outcome. Well done.

Great news! Well done you (and MNers with useful advice!)!

Phew. Well done for sticking at this, and glad you are happy at (both) outcomes!

To be honest, I feel really churlish, going for the second option anyway, but it was getting to the point where DD didn't know what was going off and we had to bite the bullet one way or another.

Still, at least it means they are having to answer for their actions now!

It has been so stressful!

We do e OP

You have an outcome you are happy with and the LGO will rap the LA's knuckles so that hopefully they will think twice before doing it to someone else, so win-win as far as I'm concerned

Stellar you own nothing to the LEA so don't worry. You only concern is to act in the best interests of your DD and if it is in her best interests now, due to the LEA's delay, to send her to the second choice school then that is what you should do and sod the LEA

Great news :)

I think the LGO/the-powers-that-be still need to address just how late is reasonable to withdraw a place. I'm sure those that drafted the new Admissions Code didn't intend for LEA's to be able to withdraw a place they had offered in error as late as, say, the day before they are due to start school.

Great news Stellar,

Lets hope the LA get their act together now.

Good Luck with the new school

Excellent news. Glad it is sorted.

prettybird - That has already happened. The LGO ruled some time ago that an admissions authority can only withdraw an offer on the basis of a mistake if they do so within about 3 days of the offer being made. The new Admissions Code does not change that. I suspect the reason the offer was reinstated was that the LGO pointed out to the LA that there was absolutely no way they could withdraw an offer after 8 weeks and that they were only making matters worse for themselves by persisting.

Congratulations!

Will your foster daughter be going to the same school as your dd too?