Appealing for reception 2013-2014

[climax]

Hi,

I am writing to get some useful inputs on the procedure of the appeals.

First, my daughters reception application CAF was a late one because we moved to our new place in June '13. So, I understand that! we did not get into the preferred schools that we needed but ended in a school that is 2.6 miles away from our house and needs 2 bus transfers one way and 45 mins of journey each time.
Second, I am in my 8th month of pregnancy and my new baby is due in mid march and my husband works away from London and I manage the school run all by myself? I am afraid what will happen after march, as I have no support system.
I am appealing with 2 schools near to my place on personal grounds and explaining my family situation. I am yet to get an appeal date from the council, which I think will be in end of Jan.
All these schools have infant size of max 30, which both of the schools have reached.
Jut want to know, what are the chances of winning this appeal...will they consider the family situation cos I am single mom in 8th month of pregnancy with minimal support and the travel is harder day by day.
Kindly give in your thoughts..please
Xxxx

If it's an infant class size appeal I think your chances of winning are very slim. You can only really win if the LA have made a mistake and that your daughter would have got a place if that mistake had not been made or if the LA's decision was unreasonable. The criteria for unreasonable is very high and I don't think your circumstances would meet that criteria.

Are you on the waiting list for all the schools near you? You might need to check that you are still on the waiting list as some schools will only have one up until Christmas.

Yes - make sure that you are on the waiting lists of ALL schools nearby.

If the classes are at 30 pupil capacity, you would be unlikely to win the appeal. A 45min journey is not generally considered excessive. It might be quicker to walk (though I appreciate that pregnancy might make that more difficult). Can you drive? Would the LEA pay for transport given the distance involved?

The appeal panel may be sympathetic about your situation but that doesn't allow them to admit your child. On the information you have given these will be infant class size appeals. As Rafa says that means you should only win if there has been a mistake that deprived your daughter of a place or the LA has acted unreasonably. A mistake is very unlikely for a late application and nothing you have said leads me to believe the LA has acted unreasonably.

If the school is more than 2 miles from home by the shortest safe walking route your daughter is entitled to free transport to and from school until she is 8. Have you enquired about this? You may find that they will arrange a taxi for your daughter which would make your life easier.

Unfortunately those are circumstances which will not win an appeal. You are could reasonably be expected to find a child minder or similar to take your child school if you are unable to do so. I assume you're in London - unfortunately if you were elsewhere you would be entitled to have the LEA pay for your child's transport. However the child Oyster card is seen as a substitute for this. You will need to think about logistics I'm afraid. Your DH could take paternity for two weeks and take your dc to school, after that suggest you get sling as this will make it easier getting the bus. And make sure you're on every waiting list possible.

As the others have said, your chances are very small in these circumstances. Your personal situation, whilst difficult, will not be taken into account for appeals into year R,1 or 2.

Are you on all the waiting lists you can for nearer schools?

"I am appealing with 2 schools near to my place on personal grounds and explaining my family situation."

Hi Climax Unfortunately, your chances of winning an appeal on those grounds is as close to 0 as it can be.

The panel will have absolutely no discretion in your appeal because it is an Infant Class Size appeal. There are often families who appeal, who have two children allocated different schools 1.5 miles away from each other which start at exactly the same time each morning and finish at exactly the same time each evening. They have to routinely take one child late to school and pick up one child late from school.

They still don't win because they can't claim that a mistake has been made, and the definition of 'unreasonable' used in Admission Appeals is 'so unreasonable that no reasonable person acting reasonably could have made it'.

Your best option is to try and ensure that your child is on the waiting list for every nearer school.