Primary School Applications

[curiousgeorgie]

I'm just doing the application for my daughter to go to primary school next year.

There is a section on the form for medical information and I have a letter from her doctor about her hypermobility.

I think the closest school to us (where she is already at nursery) is best, it's on our street so a very short walk so she doesn't get painful legs, and it's a very small school where they already look after her needs with regards to help with stairs, going to the toilet and climbing into chairs and things.

My question is, does this actually make any difference? If the order of admission is looked after chikdren, siblings then catchment, where would reasoning like this put her?

(As in, they wouldn't put my DD above a looked after child or expect a sibling to go elsewhere for this reason?)

It depends whether the school has a criteria for medical needs or not. If it does (most surrey schools do) it's normally the second criteria, above siblings.

However, the criteria is "exceptional" medical or social need, and the criteria for being considered under this is normally quite high. You can apply under this criteria and supply the medical letter, but there is no guarantee of acceptance; you need to show how no other school will meet her needs.

Would she get in under distance anyway?

Yes, mention it. Whether it makes a difference to getting a place will depend on whether there is an exceptional medical/social need criterion.

But if you don't mention it, they cannot take it into account. And that might make a difference if you find yourself needing to appeal.

Is there a Medical and Social or Exceptional Needs admission category OP? if so this information may mean that your child would be a higher priority than siblings.
As you are applying to your nearest school, it is very unlikely that you wouldn't be offered a place there, but the information could also be useful if you need to appeal for a place.
The fact that she is at the nursery has no effect on primary admissions.

If the criteria are as you state there is no priority on medical/social needs. So I would mention it but it is unlikely to make any difference for initial allocations. If you don't get a place and the appeal is an infant class size case you could then try to argue that the LA has acted unreasonably but it would be a long shot.

I'm hoping she'll get a place anyway, we're 380m away from the school... But if we don't and I appealed, I wouldn't want them to think it was dodgy that I only mentioned it now.

Essentially, it can't hurt her application can it?

Yes, mention the need, and why your first preferenece school satisfies it.

Will do no harm, may turn out not to be relevant, but if you did need to appeal every little will help.

Make sure you provide medical evidence from your doctor with your application, then if you don't get a place you could cite that as the the LA being unreasonable. If you only provide medical evidence at an appeal the panel should not consider it if it is an Infant Class Size appeal.

Does/is she likely to have a statement of SEN? If so the school named on the statement must take her.

You don't say whether medical criteria gives priority. If so it would be advisable to have letter from Dr not only saying she has the condition but that the preferred school would meet her needs in a way that alternatives would not.