Hi, I have been trying to work on an appeal but am getting really confused with it. Can anyone help or advise me in any way please?
In Sept my daughter will start year 3.
Since reception class she has. Reb bullied in a variety of ways but quite a few physical instances with the worst being attacked with a pair of scissors. I have had many meetings with the school but they have never been able to resolve the problem and it continues.
In year 1 we applied to go on waiting list for another local school and each year we reapply - we are currently on the year 2 waiting list and have just submitted an early year 3 application for Sept.
As I ve said the bullying has continued and worsened and it's clear it isn't going to settle as the child grow older and from September we are no longer under the infant class size regulation.
Earlier this year my daughter was diagnosed with anxiety and has panic attacks - gp has referred her to child mental health team. Teacher says daughter is struggling at school and she is now very anxious and nervous outside of school too, gp believes it has all stemmed from ongoing problems at school and has wrote a supportive letter to send to admissions.
Tge head of admissions has told me they cannot accept a drs letter only a hospital consultant which my daughter has not got and also that the condition is not serious or ongoing. We have tried for last couple of years through school nurse and gp to get my daughter referred but they felt she was too young to benefit from counselling.
I am in the process of trying to write a case for an appeal but am getting confused with various acts / legislation etc.
It isn't my daughters fault that she doesn't have a hospital consultant should a gp letter not be considered at all?? Also anxiety is a mental health condition which is serious and ongoing especially in a child and in some classes is classed as a disability - could I use any of those arguments or am I going way off scale 🙈.
There is a child due to leave the school we want in the summer holidays as their family are relocating if my daughters application had been accepted under the medical criterion we would have reached the top of the waiting list and therefore would be offered that place.
In addition I have read that a parents medical needs can be taken into consideration- I am registered disabled and have proof by admissions say my needs aren't relevant - does anybody know this for certain??
I know to mention other reasons such as school policies academic reasons location etc etc
I will be refused as the year group is oversubscribed- The school is not according to the pan and looking st historical information I can see that the school has run above the pan in the past - is any of that relevant? Should I include all of this in my appeal letter or hold some of it back for an appeal hearing??
I realise that I probably don't have the best case in the world but I want to try my best for my daughters happiness and health - any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you xx