primary school appeal help,any advice please, thank you

[lailamom]

I am appealing to get my daughter into my first choice primary school, I have alot of reasons, but I have an enquiry.
The school I am appealing for, normally have 30 children in reception but this year they offered 31places, because they had twins, but I know from the school that they now have 30 because someone didnt want the place.
I know that for twins its exceptional, but I am thinking to use it in my appeal as well, that they already accepted 31 children this year and I believe my child should have a chance because of reasonable reasons, now that they have only 30. ???

Agree with tiggytape. In this situation the fact that one child has left does not create a vacancy and no properly trained appeal panel will accept it as a reason for admitting your child. This is an infant class size case so you can only win on the grounds tiggytape outlines.

Sorry.

Whilst I agree with what has been said, I think that a proper explanation needs to be sort for how there was a 31st pupil in the class. If it was because of an excepted pupil, then it does not give you any leverage in your case.
You are saying that the 31st pupil was because of twins. In the admission code 2010 that is pertinent for the september 2012 intake, twins were not admitted as excepted pupils. In the 2012 admission code which comes in for next year's admissions, they would be treated as excepted. In effect the admission authority made a mistake in admitting the twins but that also does not help you because they have not set a precedent, it was a mistake.

Thank you very much everyone for your quick reply:)

I mean does that mean I shouldnt mention this in my appeal at all, I mean I am sure it was because of twins they had to admit 31 children. and could you please make it more clear to me, what you mean with that authority made a mistake in admitting twins but they have not set precedent, it was a mistake. ??
it sounds for me not really fair, if I have reasonable reasons, why should my child not be treated as excepted child? in the end of the day, the twin is an extra child in classroom like my own child would be if appeal wins.
I will give u an idea, about my reason for the appeal, because I really need some help and support, and you are very helpful people thank you so much for your reply.
one of my reason are speech delay and the difference between the schools as stated in ofsted and how well one school deal with speech problems and bullying as my child is shy, the help and support for those kids are outstanding there, whereas the offered school is only satisfaction.
I have proof and very recent report from speech therapist, another letter from a family organisation which knows my daughter and my family.
Road safety as i have to cross 10 streets with my daughter and two other 3 yr and 2 yr old brother and sister, whereas the prefered school is 2 min away and only one small street to cross, I am already going to apply for my second child for reception this year, and is very likely to get same school, which was not my choice. Also I have a medical reason for myself. what do you think ? do I stand a chance ?
Thank you very much for your help , I really appreciate that.

Also the fact it is the local school and it will give my child the opportunity to build up a circle of lcoal friends, which is needs as she is shy.and her best friend got a place and already going there together with a few other kids from daughters nursery.

But I'm afraid that none of those reasons will count as any of those they're allowed to consider - see tiggytape's post earlier.

The medical issue might count if it was for a place in Year 3 or above, but the LA are legally constrained by the 30 limit. Friendship issues and road safety concerns won't be considered, I'm afraid.

Are u sure ? I have been reading people here giving advice to show the appeal panel why preferred school is the (right) school, if u understand what I mean? Also how am I supposed to know if any mistake has been made ?

The twin may not be the excepted child either. Another child might be the excepted on having been admitted because of an error for example.

What are the admission criteria for your preferred school? Presumably you lost out because of distance? Or is it a church school? If not a church school what is your distance, and what was the distance of the furthest child admitted? Your council should give you these details?

Demonstrating a school is right for your child only applies for year 3 and higher appeals.

why did your dd not get a place in the first place if you're only 2 minutes away?

Many LAs have a rule that they will admit either a twin or a same-cohort sibling as an excepted pupil if their sibling is child 30 on the list.

In other words, it would work like this:

Intake has a set of twins, who are in priority 3 of the applications, living 1.02 miles from the school. The 30th place is taken by a child with priority 3, living 1.065 miles from the school - no excepted children.

Intake has a set of twins, who are in priority 3 of the applications. They live 1.02 miles from the school, which places them equally 30th on the list. But they can't be equally 30th, so they are place 30 and place 31. Twin 2 is an 'excepted child'.

The fact that the LA followed their procedure and allowed Twin 2 a place as an 'excepted child' does not mean that you can then take that place.

It is a church school and yeah I live only 2 min away also there is two rutes to school I don't know which one they used,It's on the map 0.3 mil and 3 min walk but other route is shorter I don't know why it doesnt show on map but do u think I could get any information from admission since its a church school ?

Was attending church one of the criteria then?

(i) Children who are in public care.
(ii) Children whose parents worship at St Gabriel?s at least monthly and have
done so for at least a year.
(iii) Children whose parents worship at least monthly and have done so for at least a year in other Anglican Churches.
(iv) Children whose parents worship at least monthly and have done so for at least a year in other Christian Churches (as defined by the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland).

Children who are baptised Anglicans (baptismal form will be required).
(vi) Children who are baptised by other Christian rites (baptismal form will be required).
In each of the categories ii ? vi parents should provide a supporting statement from their priest or minister.
(vii) Children who have siblings, already in the school, at date of entry to Reception Class. A sibling is defined as a brother or sister, half brother or sister or step brother or sister whose main residence is at the same address.
(viii) Children whose parents live in the parishes of St Gabriel?s, St Saviour?s and St James the Less.
(ix) Children of other faiths who practise their faith at least monthly and have done so for at least a year. (Supporting Statement from Religious leader required)
(x) Children who do not meet any of the pre

I mean I know they took like 7 kids from the local area

She was third on list to start with now she has moved further down

tiggy - We live in Hampshire, and our admissions code always stated that where there was a multiple birth or same cohort sibling as the last admitted child, the remaining child/ren in the multiple would be admitted. Or at least, it was for the 2009/10 admissions cycle and the 2010/11 admissions cycle. I thought I made it clear that the OP wouldn't benefit from that regardless

To be honest I am so worried and stressed I mean she is going to nursery now even though she has a school place but I deferred it cuz I don't want her to settle s