Help me find a way around this tricky situation!

[SunsetOnTheHorizon]

Long time lurker here. I'm only posting as I am desperate for some ideas on how to get around my tricky situation.

We recently moved home to a nicer area with good schools. Currently DC are attending the school in where our previous house was located, which is about 20 minutes drive away now.

Dc2 has secured a place for sept 2018. Dc1 has not but has been put on the waiting list.

Here comes the dilemma... End of the school day is the same for both schools. I don't want to be relying on after school clubs as they both have a language class to get to at 4.30.

What can I suggest to the school to help?

I have spoken to the Head of the current school and she is adamant that i cannot collect dc1 earlier than hometime.

I have sat through lots of appeals.

If your child has SEN you are more likely to be successful although not guaranteed.
If your child is vulnerable in some way - medical or anxiety or has been bullied you are more likely to be successful although not guaranteed.
If you have very stressful family circumstances - terminal illness in family, social services involvement, ongoing illness that are affecting your child, you are more likely to be successful although not guaranteed.

Having to collect two children at once will not be a factor- that is not an educational issue. That is considered an issue for you to resolve.

It is a bizarre system that does not work in the interests of all children.

No mention of homework from the school and nothing in the brochure.

Thank you for these very imformative replies and I have since spoken to a charity that dc1 is closely involved with. He had a brain injury a few years back and does suffer from anxiousness, the move for his sister is triggering some upset from him as I have noticed mostly today. Am I right in thinking this medical issue that is onhoing for us can and will support our application. He will be getting support in other forms too as the transition takes place.

I don't really want to go into age too much. But dc3 is a late starter and I am not too concerned in regards to her as she is not obliged to attend school until the term after she turns 5 which is next year technically. For the record she has a place at the school furthest away and is on the waiting list for the new school.

Lots to process and I will be going bk to the Head with this new information.

Many of you have been very supportive. I wouldn't have had this in rl. Thanks

So there's a third child? Why aren't they at the same school as at least one of their siblings? Or is it a special school?

X-post, sorry!

Third child is due to start in september in the recption class. I didn't mention her as per above post and her age. Ñot compulsory school age

Right. Now we have something that, although difficult for your child, might (stress might) help your appeal.

Does this school/LEA have a separate admissions category for medical and social need? If so, did you make it clear you were applying under that heading when you applied?

For the best chance at appeal, you need (ideally) a letter from a health care professional confirming that your child had a brain injury, is prone to anxiety, that separation from his sibling is triggering that anxiety and in the HCP’s professional opinion he needs a place in the same school. You can then mention all the more run of the mill issues about the house move, making local friends etc etc. The appeal panel may want to refer the matter to the separate panel that decides whether an application should be placed in the medical/social category (most LEAs have such a panel) or it might allow the appeal on the medical/social grounds even if you’re not placed in that category. It might do neither.

Your latest post mentions speaking again to the Head. They should be able to tell you whether the school/LEA uses a medical/social category. If they do, it’s worth starting the process now of gathering supporting evidence and asking the LEA to reconsider your application under that heading, as it could mean moving a few places up the waiting list before any offers are made over the summer.

That is really helpful thank you.

In regards to the category, I am not certain if there such thing. But I did not disclose his injury, like you mentioned i will be going bk to the Lea to get it looked again.

First thing tomorrow I will be speaking to his support worker at the charity, who can help me get in touch with the HCPs at the hospital (there were two different depts he was involved with).

Thanks again for the wealth of knowledge.

Not every school/LEA has a medical/social need category but, where they do, it's usually second in the priorities after looked after children (childen with an EHCP naming the school are placed without going through the main admissions process and its various categories). That's why, if nothing else, it could help you move up the waiting list (assuming there's more than one child on it).

No mention of homework from the school and nothing in the brochure.

I'd take that as meaning they follow standard practice, which is generally to set homework pretty regularly.

I don't quite follow how DC1's medical issue is ongoing if you have noticed him being upset only today?

I don't quite follow how DC1's medical issue is ongoing if you have noticed him being upset only today?

Well having a brain injury a few years ago and anxiousness are ongoing issues which means he is more vulnerable and being specifically upset about his sister moving is a more current trigger.

Has his sister actually moved yet? Check when the sibling link is triggered. Sometimes it is not until the sibling is actually enrolled and in the school. It is probably too late now but starting before the end of term would put your other dcs to the top of the lists. Do you know where they are on the waiting lists? Probably more important for your reception child as there could be movement over the summer as people make a final decision to go private.

I should say that a sibling moving to a different school can trigger anxiety. A sense that the parents prefer the new school, the enthusiasm of parents to support the child making the move can be interpreted as being less interested in the old school, uncertainty over whether and when they will move too, other children asking why their sibling left and how they are. Challenges with two school pick ups as already discussed. It doesn't mean it isn't a good point for an appeal, and clearly your son is more predisposed to anxiety, however just to highlight that it is fairly normal to feel like that.

Thank you should and panel, your wise words have been very helpful and supportive.

I will be appealing the waiting list position, only thing is they can't apply the sibling link as dc2 doesn't start till sept, which in when they will consider the appeal anyway.

I am in the process of gathering medical evidence and other documents to support the appeal and I will be referring to all your imformative posts.

Just to update, dc1 is now having nightmares in regards to his current school. Not sure what he thinks about subconsciously but it seems as though it is affecting him fairly deeply.

DC3 is on the waiting list for reception, number 5 I have been told hopefully once her sister starts she will be moved up.

Just to be clear. You’re not appealing against the waiting list position but against the refusal of a place.

Waiting list position is governed by the oversubscription criteria and isn’t subject to appeal. If you win the appeal, you get a place immediately, wherever you are in the waiting list. The potential benefit of submitting the medical evidence to the LEA is that if they agree to place you in the medical/social category that in itself will bump you up the waiting list (possibly above the sibling category, depending on how this LEA arranged its oversubscription criteria).

That is great news. Very positive stuff. Obviously not guaranteed. Thank u again.

Just quickly, if the class has reached it's maximum limit of 30 and the appeal is successful how does the school manage to fit my son in?

That’s the nub of the appeal. You’ve been refused a place because (presumably) the class has reached its limit of 30. The panel has to decide whether the prejudice to your child in not having a place outweighs the prejudice to the school in having to admit the 31st pupil. If they do, the school has to make it work.