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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

single mum and student needs help with appealing a school refusal

70 replies

nesey1 · 10/05/2016 18:04

i would like some advice regarding appealing a refusal for a reception school place. My daughter has been refused her preferred school choices due to not being in their catchment area, and has been offered a school that is round the corner from me. However when applying i asked for my parents address to be taken into consideration as they will be taking her to and from school, they live 0.7 miles away from the preferred schools. i am a single mum and currently studying on a full time Nursing degree, i will be starting my 3rd year in September. There is no way possible that i will be able to take my daughter to and from school whilst on placement which consists of 50% of my degree. I would have to quit my degree in order to take my daughter to school, which inevitably will have a huge negative impact on my daughters life. my parents are not willing to take my daughter to the school that she has been offered as it is 4 miles away from their house. My dad will be taking my daughter to school after completing a night shift due to my mum working days and he does not drive. My daughter currently attends the preschool of one of the schools that we chose however she was still refused a place. i will be appealing their decision. do you think that i have a good enough case or should i quit my degree from now? could i change my daughters address as living with my parents, as she spend the majority of her time there while i study? will that help secure her a place at the preferred schools. im desperate.. help....

OP posts:

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orangepudding · 10/05/2016 19:33

The obvious answer is that you will need a child minder, many parents have to do that. You do not have a valid reason to appeal.

You could perhaps defer your daughters school start for a year but you will probably still be in the same situation in a years times when you start working.

IoraRua · 10/05/2016 19:37

Sorry OP but along with the others I don't think you have grounds, parents other commitments/not wanting to use a childminder aren't reasonable criteria from what I know of the English system.
Accept other school, make sure you're on the waiting list for first choice, and get her used to a minder over summer.

WombatStewForTea · 10/05/2016 19:37

It is also not my parents responsibility to take my daughter to school and why should he.. after completing a 12 hour night... it is silly to expect him to commit to that
Exactly it is your responsibility, not your parents and certainly not the school's problem!

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 10/05/2016 19:38

How much time is spending the majority of her time there? There's a big difference between spending the majority of her waking time there and actually being resident there. Admissions authorities will often have strict criteria about what residency means.

Is she spending at least 4 nights a week there every week? I presume that would have to be regardless of whether you are on placement or not.

You may also have to switch child benefit to being paid to your parents.

AgingJuvenileBinkyHuckaback · 10/05/2016 19:38

Have you asked the school to check where your DD would sit on the waiting list if you legally moved her residence to your parents? If the school confirmed that she would be absolutely top of the list, and if you were prepared to have her sleeping at your DPs from Sunday to Thursday nights (not insane if you're going to be out of the house from 6am to 8:30 pm every day - maybe you could sleep there too some nights) and if you shifted the child benefit, doctors registration etc to your DM, then maybe it could work for the next year.

It's a not uncommon arrangement in many cultures, and if it's the only way to finish your degree then it's worth a try.

However a child minder would be a more usual solution.

AndNowItsSeven · 10/05/2016 19:46

Your dd can remain I nursery and stay on the waiting list until January.

AndNowItsSeven · 10/05/2016 19:46

in nursery.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 10/05/2016 19:49

I think that's the only way forward, Aging.

The OP can change the address, but it will involve actually changing her daughter's place of residence to her grandparents. Anything else will be school place fraud and may result in any place given being removed.

The other option is for the OP to move back in with her parents too.

PatriciaHolm · 10/05/2016 20:04

OP would need to be absolutely clear on what, exactly, the LEA would accept as a change of address. Areas differ; for example, Croydon won't accept a relatives address unless the relative actually has legal custody of the child, and require proof in the form of a court order. Moving in herself with her parents would solve that, but may not be an ideal solution!

insancerre · 10/05/2016 20:04

To win an appeal you would have to prove that a mistake was made in the admissions process
Which it doesn't sound like it was
I'm afraid your circumstances won't win an appeal

I'm a preschool manager and every year parents ask us for help in appealing places
I've had to just say no now as it doesn't make any difference that they went to the same preschool as the school or they won't know anyone at the school nor that they lack confidence

Your best bet is to accept the place and then go on the waiting list at your preferred school

You can't use your parents address. Your daughter doesn't live there and that would be fraud

Original poster

nesey1 · 10/05/2016 20:04

what ever the criteria is, i would make sure that i adhere to it!

OP posts:

Original poster

nesey1 · 10/05/2016 20:08

thank you AgingJuvenileBinkyHuckaback , it is definitely worth asking them if that will guarantee her a place.

OP posts:

Tribblewithoutacause · 10/05/2016 20:15

Nesey Lets be frank, it's one year of your life and not even a whole year. It's 50% of your year, not counting breaks etc. You say your daughter lacks confidence and you don't trust a childminder, well a childminder sounds like what you need in these circumstances. You actually have time at the moment to find a decent childminder and help your daughter to build trust in them, and for you to have a good working relationship with them. You can't pin all your hopes on your appeal being accepted. You need to plan for the worst and hope for the best in these kind of things.

Failing all that, any chance you could change your placement trust to ones whose shifts start later?

NynaevesSister · 10/05/2016 20:17

You can find out what the criteria is for changing address. But it won't guarantee a place. It will only change where you are on the waiting list.

Schools are not allowed to give preference to attendance at their nursery or preschool so that makes no difference.

If your allocated school is more than a certain distance from your house you are entitled to school transport. You could ask what they provide if you qualify.

Stay on the waiting list, and defer her start date. You have a right to do this as a parent (no matter what the school says). Your child only has to start full time at school the term AFTER they turn 5, or the summer term if that is when they are born. The nursery will still get the funding for her. So you could see if she could stay at the nursery for the beginning of the year in the hope that a place comes up.

LIZS · 10/05/2016 20:18

But it won't guarantee her a place even so. She may move up the waiting list but others could still come in ahead of her. You could end up with her " living" there but having the same school place come September.

Original poster

nesey1 · 10/05/2016 20:20

can i just confirm that i will not be making a fraudulent claim... my daughter will live/stay at my parents house for the required time..whether that be 3,4 or 5 nights per week. i will strictly follow the requirements.

OP posts:

wannabestressfree · 10/05/2016 20:25

Your not listening. I have done lots of appeals. You won't fit the criteria. You have been given lots of other alternatives but are choosing to ignore.....

Original poster

nesey1 · 10/05/2016 20:31

Basically what u are all saying is that there is no guarantee however i could potentially improve my chances by either moving or finding evidence that meet their very strict criteria.. (which my concerns do not meet).

Thank you all for you comments and suggestions.. i will definitely consider them before deciding what to do next.

If anyone has ever been in a similar situation and has some how won their appeal, i would appreciate your input :)

OP posts:

Tribblewithoutacause · 10/05/2016 20:32

What about you just pay for a taxi when your Dad drops your daughter off at school?

Original poster

nesey1 · 10/05/2016 20:39

dont think i could afford £10 a day in taxi fees, n i doubt they will cover her transportation fees as they will go off my address which is 0.7 miles away from the school, therefore she will not be eligible.

OP posts:

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 10/05/2016 20:41

You can't improve your chances at appeal by doing that.

You can possibly move your DD up the waiting list though.

Even if your daughter went to live with your parents, you would still have no grounds for winning an appeal. The LA didn't make a mistake based on the information they had at the time of application and your circumstances are not exceptional enough to be considered unreasonable.

LIZS · 10/05/2016 20:44

But you are willing to forgo tax credits , are they less than £50 pw? ( bear in mind it would only be 39 weeks). Could he do pick up by bus. How do you plan to cover holidays, inset days, sickness? What arrangements are in place currently?

Moreisnnogedag · 10/05/2016 20:59

What is your plan for the following year? As a nurse you'll be asked to do a variety of shift patterns - what would the plan be then?

Fwiw, I've used childminders and once you have the right one they can build your daughters confidence and independent and after a bit, you'll wonder what you were worried about :) you have the time now to find the right one for you and your dd.

Hassled · 10/05/2016 21:04

You need to understand that the vast majority of working parents have similar logistical issues to yours, and are also a bit nervous of childcare. Most people are going to be in the same boat. You will only win an appeal if the admissions criteria haven't been applied properly, and nothing you've said implies that's the case. I do feel for you, but you'll find a way round this. And don't forget there is always some movement between now and September re waiting lists etc.

NynaevesSister · 10/05/2016 21:20

I do feel for you but honestly there is no one in your situation who has won at appeal. I only know of one case that was successfully argued under the unreasonable grounds, but that involved a single mother with life limiting (and terminal) illness and little mobility (in a wheelchair) who lived directly opposite the school and missed out on a place due to a freak year where it was over subscribed with siblings.

You would have more chance at Year 3 or higher once the infant class size restrictions are lifted.

If your child moves in with your parents you will lose tax credits and also child benefit. Is that more than it will cost in taxi fares?

It sucks because life is hard enough when you are a single parent and are trying to improve your life as well. But the cold truth is that there are many many people in your situation. The appeals panel simply cannot take into account your childcare problems - no matter how much they sympathise with you.

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