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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

Moving house and one child not been given spot in local school

60 replies

Fiddletiddle · 07/04/2022 19:10

Hey all,

We are moving house tomorrow and my son (age 7) has been given a spot in Year 2 in the local school (probably 100/200 yards away from new house) but my daughter has been declined a spot in Year 1 at the same school. The only alternative is another school for my daughter but its around a 25min walk and my wife doesn't drive.

I have appealed the rejection and had an appeal hearing through today with a letter from the school countering my appeal which has deflated me somewhat (it's like a 5 page essay as to why my daughter shouldn't be given a spot).

My main reasons for the appeal were the fact her brother has accepted a spot, the alternative is 25mins away so one kid would always be late, the school being about 100 yards away, and the fact my daughter relies quite a lot on my son (he's a lot more confident than her).

Also recently been told during parents evening that my daughter is really far behind and likely to fail her end of year 1 assessments, and I feel like her potentially now having no school is going to be so detrimental for her entire education.

I guess my question is, does anyone have any advice or guidance on how to strengthen my appeal as I'm feeling quite hopeless at the moment! Any help would be tremendously appreciated.

Thanks!

OP posts:

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Svara · 07/04/2022 19:19

Can you put your son in wrap around care giving time to drop off your daughter?

nocoolnamesleft · 07/04/2022 19:21

If your daughter can't get a place at your son's school, can your son get a place at your daughter's school?

MrsPear · 07/04/2022 19:24

Just let one be late everyday - alternate. It will soon be flagged and then you go to a meeting and point out the obvious that you can’t be in two places at once.

Original poster

Fiddletiddle · 07/04/2022 19:25

@nocoolnamesleft

If your daughter can't get a place at your son's school, can your son get a place at your daughter's school?

I am also exploring this and waiting to heat back although the preference would be the local school (though the same school is certainly more important)

OP posts:

Original poster

Fiddletiddle · 07/04/2022 19:26

@MrsPear

Just let one be late everyday - alternate. It will soon be flagged and then you go to a meeting and point out the obvious that you can’t be in two places at once.

Haha I did think this is ultimately what would happen and whilst I'd like to send a message I am genuinely concerned about the progress of my daughter

OP posts:

arethereanyleftatall · 07/04/2022 19:26

I'm surprised at the 5 page document.
Is it not just because they're full then?
They have max ratios don't they, so if they're full, they're full? (I might be wrong but that's what I always assumed).

ProperVexed · 07/04/2022 19:27

Are you in England? The school cannot go above its PAN in KS1. So if year 1 is full she won't get a place. You'll either have to stay on the waiting list and hope a place arises quickly whilst juggling two schools, or try to get both children into the more distant school. Not ideal, but that is how it is these days.

RandomMess · 07/04/2022 19:28

Another alternative is home schooling, unless your wife works?

Hellocatshome · 07/04/2022 19:30

If the class is full its full, no amount of appealing will change that. Sounds like its try to get your son into the other school as well or use wraparound care for 1 of them while the daughter stays on the waiting list and hope for the best.

SleeplessWB · 07/04/2022 19:30

Even if the school is full their appeal statement has to justify why admitting additional children over PAN would be detrimental to those already on roll, hence the 5 pages. It will be their standard response, not personal to OP's child. If you have a sibling on roll and live so close you will be at the top of the waiting list so good chance of getting a place soon. The getting them both there on time issue is not viewed as the school/councils issue - they have met their obligation to offer a place, it is up to you if you take it or not.

LittleBearPad · 07/04/2022 19:32

Stay on the waiting list and hold your nerve. Someone will leave. Are you next in line?

In the meantime one will need to go to school clubs or they both go to the other school further away.

Namechangeno25788 · 07/04/2022 19:32

We had the same situation last year though different year groups. Both children went into the school further away and settled really well. We’ve kept our youngest on the waiting list for the nearer school but even more than 12 months later, there is no place for her. Having said that I’m not sure I’d move her now anyway, as she’s made friends and is very happy there. Appreciate that might not help though

titchy · 07/04/2022 19:32

If the school's class sizes are a multiple of 15 then it will be an infant class size appeal - it is illegal for the school to admit if they are full. Unfortunately you have no chance of winning an appeal if that is the case.

If it is not an ICS appeal then you stand a chance and should concentrate on why she needs this specific school. Having a sibling there, and being local to assist integrating into the local community after a location move will all help.

LIZS · 07/04/2022 19:34

If there is a place 25 minutes walk away they won't create an extra space at the local one due to Infant Class Size restrictions. Where is she on the waiting list for ds school and vice versa? Is there any before/after school care? Logistics are not grounds on which to win an appeal.

Original poster

Fiddletiddle · 07/04/2022 19:36

@SleeplessWB

It may be worth noting that the other school is actually in another council, the council with the school that offered my son the place but not my daughter didn't offer any alternative (just told me to look elsewhere or appeal).

OP posts:

LittleBearPad · 07/04/2022 19:43

They may know she has the alternative place. Our council education department actually works for two councils.

SleeplessWB · 07/04/2022 19:44

Is there a nearer school in the same council? If they have an unplaced child in their area they are obliged to find a place but it could be further away than the one you have been offered.

Original poster

Fiddletiddle · 07/04/2022 19:46

@LittleBearPad

They may know she has the alternative place. Our council education department actually works for two councils.

They don't as its someone completely different and I only had the spot through today whereas she got rejected from the other school about 3 weeks ago with no recommendation for an alternative (they literally just said I can appeal or try and find something else)

OP posts:

Original poster

Fiddletiddle · 07/04/2022 19:50

@SleeplessWB

Is there a nearer school in the same council? If they have an unplaced child in their area they are obliged to find a place but it could be further away than the one you have been offered.

The nearest school in the same council I'd need to check but from knowing the area quite well I'd say its a few miles away at least, hence why I looked at the other council.

OP posts:

Eightiesfan · 07/04/2022 19:53

You need to strengthen your appeal, they are young so it is unreasonable to expect you to be in two places at once. I would focus one of my arguments as it would affect your daughters mental health.

alospi · 07/04/2022 19:55

@Eightiesfan

You need to strengthen your appeal, they are young so it is unreasonable to expect you to be in two places at once. I would focus one of my arguments as it would affect your daughters mental health.

Will it make any difference if the class is full? I thought they couldn't go over a certain number in year 1.

LeastofLeicester · 07/04/2022 20:02

@Eightiesfan

You need to strengthen your appeal, they are young so it is unreasonable to expect you to be in two places at once. I would focus one of my arguments as it would affect your daughters mental health.

That won't work. The only reason they'll go over PAN is if they made a mistake.

Comedycook · 07/04/2022 20:06

What are the admissions criteria. Where I live, siblings are quite high up the priority list so if that's the case where you are, surely if one child leaves year one, your DD would be top priority or very near the top?

anappleadaykeeps · 07/04/2022 20:06

I would let your son start there, and hopefully a place will arise for your daughter next term some time. If she is a sibling and you are 100/200yards from the gate, you must be at the top of the list I presume? How big is the school? Ie a bigger school (say 90 children per year) will have a higher turnover than one with just 30 children per year.

LIZS · 07/04/2022 20:08

Sibling link will not apply until either child actually attends, presumably after Easter now.

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