Advice Needed for Reception refusal appeal

[AppleCat78]

Hello. Hoping for some realistic advise on appealing refusal into our first pick school for DD who is due to start reception in Sept. We’re located in Wiltshire. Basically our daughter is settled with the worlds best childminder, who is only able to accommodate the school run for our first pick. We didn’t get an offer, and where she was originally 3rd on the waitlist, she’s now dropped to 4th.

We’re a military family, and have worked really hard to create a stable environment for DD, and the support we get from our childminder is the only thing that keeps me going as a working mom when hubby gets deployed. We did try to find care that accommodated the other school that is truthfully closer to where we live when we first moved here, but there was zero options that worked available. The school we prefer is not that far away as the town we live in is small.

Since applying, we’ve also found out we’re expecting with #2 due early July. We have already arranged for our childminder to take #2 when I go back to work in Feb when baby is only 7 months old. We cannot lose our childcare as this completely screws our family over. I cannot give up the place for #2 and feel sick at having to find a new setting for DD, removing her from her new sibling and an environment she knows, trusts, and is settled in. I don’t pick up until 6pm and having to pick up two children at two different settings means we won’t get home until 6:30/6:45 at night meaning our already limited time together as a family on week nights is significantly reduced as once we get in it’ll need to be straight into bedtime routine for DD - no bonding time as family, and no bonding time for siblings. Not to mention the stress that would be having to drop off at two locations. We already drop off for 7:30am and would have to leave even earlier. This whole things has made me absolutely sick and on the verge of tears all the time.

Advice needed - what are my honest chances of success based in the above? Or how would I be able to determine if a mistake had been made? The walk to school would be via a path vs road so not sure distance, not that it actually matters as the childminder does the school run.

Is it just you can’t find anyone that accommodates that school? Have you looked on local Facebook sites- asked at the school? I can’t beleive no child at the school has a childminder. Maybe even ask at the school office if they can point you in the direction? Lots of child under groups have a group FB page- maybe try to access that so you can start interviewing people.

Assuming you are in a military area there will be movement on the waiting list because service families move but that means you could go down as well as up.
Right now you seem really stressed.
Relax
There is time
Life changes
Life usually works out

You can fight all you like but you need a plan B. You can't appeal because of childcare issues. They are not relevant unfortunately. Look at the admissions criteria. Unless you feel an error has been made or there's new information the school should have then there's going to be little point in appealing.

Seriously, you need a plan b, you might get in through waiting list, but the appeal is pointless. Do it if it makes you feel better, but you really have no reasons to be considered. You need either find transport from school to childminder, a new childminder or a different (private) school.

Most working parents have to make compromises when it comes to childcare and going to work. That’s life. You have a good time off work before you go back to see how things settle but it seems you might need to be a bit more flexible and open to other suggestions

So while it sounds like my chances are slim to none, I’ll press on with the appeal as would rather go down fighting. Then end up in a position 6 months down the road with zero childcare and having to return to work

If you must waste your time on an appeal you can't possibly win - seriously, if you base it on your childcare situation, they can't even consider it - then at least start working on your Plan B now. Why wait 6 months? That's bonkers!

You’re focussing your energy on the wrong thing here. You’re not going to win. childcare is not the schools concern. You need to now focus on finding alternative childcare.

I may have missed it, but does the allocated school do a breakfast club and after-school club? Because that's surely the solution - to put DC1 in that wraparound care at the school and DC2 with the childminder.

It's great that you love your childminder, but now DC1 is school age, the childminder can't have this degree of importance that your entire plan hinges on her. In practical terms, she is no longer the 'best' as she doesn't do pick ups for the right school, so you need to find other options whether that's school clubs, au pair, nanny share or whatever. It really doesn't have to go to the extreme of you giving up work. This is all very normal stuff that lots of parents have to deal with when their DC starts school - schoolruns are inconvenient for most working parents and the fact that your DP is in the military is neither here nor there really. Stability-wise, kids are very adaptable at that age and will take changes in childcare providers in their stride. Best start to look beyond the appeal and find ways to make it work.

Your best bet might be to speak to the Education Specialist at AFF (if you're Army, it's RAFFF for RAF). They've done a lot of work around the Armed Forces Covenant and the military pupils premium and they should be able to give you some advice.

Hugs from another military wife