School admission medical

[Willswife]

If a child is at a school and has a medical need which means they need to be at that school, can you use that as grounds for a sibling to gain a place at the same school?

I thought applying/appealing on medical grounds was only for the child concerned, but it has been suggested by another parent that medical conditions of parents/siblings can also be taken into account. Is this true?

Obviously we are in an area where a compelling medical oversubscription category exists, I know it doesn't everywhere.

Thank you.

I wasn't able to get my first choice school for DS - less than a mile away with good access. I'm disabled and use a wheelchair. Catchment school over 100 yrs old down 1 tiny street with poor access. He was placed there. He loves it, great school but I have been bullied by other parents. Hoping now we're in yr1 it won't happen anymore.

That's awful. Did you apply for the first choice school under the compelling medical category? On what grounds did they refuse if you don't mind me asking?

Hope that Y1 is a better experience for you.

Depends on the admissions criteria. Some are worded in such a way that a social or medical need can arise from the social or medical needs of the family rather than the applicant child. Others may be worded to apply to the child's medical need only. Others may not have these criteria at all - it's not a compulsory criteria in the way that looked after is.

Agree with Titchy, it depends on exactly what is in the admission criteria and might or might not be relevant. For me if the admission authority decides to have a medical / social category then it should include family but it is certainly not a legal requirement

Thank you titchy and admission. The admissions criteria do not specifically mention that family is covered, but equally doesn't mention that it's not! I think I will have to speak to the admissions office but they are very difficult to get hold of and don't return calls!

Maybe paste exactly what they do say? But if you do ask either school if they're the admissions authority, or the LEA, make sure you get their response in writing, what evidence they need and an indication of how they assess whether the need meets the criteria.

"Many admission authorities have criteria where priority will be given to applicants if there is a strong medical case or exceptional need for the child to attend the school named first on their application. When considering applying under this category parents should bear in mind that all schools can cope with special educational needs such as Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia etc.. Schools are also experienced in managing common childhood complaints such as asthma and allergies. Issues such as difficulties with childcare arrangements or the child’s ability/school performance are not covered by this category.
Parents wishing to apply under this category must state in the additional information box for their first preference what independent professional evidence they are submitting to support their application. If this information is not provided in the additional information box the application will not be considered under the exceptional and compelling category but will be considered against the remaining admission criteria. The evidence must be posted to the Pupil Admissions Team by Recorded Delivery mail. The supporting evidence from the qualified professional (i.e. medical consultant or a psychologist) must explain clearly why it is essential for the child to attend the school named as their first preference. It must detail fully the child’s needs and address the reason why these needs can only be met at the preferred school. Letters from parents alone are not sufficient nor are letters that do not address the question of which school the child must attend. Letters from teachers at the child’s current school will not normally be taken into account".

The LEA is the admission authority, I will email them so i get the response in writing. Thanks for your time and advice.

In my experience I would say yes.
If the first child gains a place under a medical category the younger sibling would gain a place as they are a sibling of the first child.

Paddington68 there are schools in my area who specifically say that children who get in under that category then their siblings don't count in the sibling category.
They do seem to be the ones that like to look good on the outside and underneath don't really want to make the effort, so I suspect it's a way of putting off such people, but it does happen.

That's unfortunate. From an environmental point of view and to help parents get kids to school having a family of children in one school is better.