Desperate advice needed

[cdoth]

My original thread is below, but hoping people with more experience can advise as totally lost on what to do 😪

To be this upset about a school place http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4786708-to-be-this-upset-about-a-school-place

I think the advice you have been given on the other thread is good.

Apply for the EHCP

Get on the waiting list.

Unfortunately I don't think that you have any grounds for appeal as it doesn't seem like a mistake has been made from what you've said.

Good luck OP!

It seems like you've had some good advice on your previous thread. There are 2 things you should do while you sort out an EHCP.

1. Accept the school you have been offered

2. Make sure you're on the waiting list for your preferred school

Is there actually any point in appealing? I'm doubtful of the waiting list option as this is an outstanding school and I'd be surprised if any options come up. I can't believe it's come to this, seems absolutely madness that he's been refused.

I assume he was just refused a place on distance?

Have you spoken to the school he was allocated? I would try to get hold of their SENCO if you can.

Appealing is rarely sucessful, unless you're sure they have made a mistake I think your focus would be better spent on sorting out an EHCP.

Waiting lists usually have a lot of movement, even for oustanding schools. You could be close to the top of the list, but won't know until you check.

@MrsSchrute I'm not sure why he was refused, is there anyway to check the reason? I can't imagine it being distance, it is the closest school to us.

I'll look into the SENCO at the school we've been offered. It just worries me that he may potentially have to go there and they do not know him - my DS struggles with new people and he just wouldn't cope well going elsewhere

The school have previously said they will support us with the appeal if he doesn't get into the reception there. Surely this will help?

Appeal at primary school age won’t help unless you can prove a mistake has been made.

Your best hope is the waiting list. I had the same with my son, I kept him on the waiting list all summer and at the point where I’d finally accepted he had to go to a different school, a week before term started, he was offered a place at the first choice school.

Good luck x

What were the admissions criteria for your preferred school? Then you'll be able to work out what category you think he was in and what category he was assesses as being in - that will give you an indication of any possible error

@myrtleWilson Where would I find that info? Would it be the school website or the council one?

The school website will have the school admissions policy. This policy will contain their oversubscription criteria.
The are usually looked after children, siblings, distance etc.

What would be the nature of the appeal? I'm surprised a school have agreed to help when there may be no chance of an appeal being successful. It feels like they're giving you false hope.

I saw on your other thread that you haven't actually applied for an EHCP yet - this seems your biggest problem to me.

If you want his SEN to be considered as mitigating circumstances then this is essential.

I don't understand why the nursery hasn't pushed this forward yet but you need to do this ASAP.

Appeals are only successful at primary level if a mistake has been made.

They cannot increase class sizes, so if the school is full then it’s full. It’s more lenient at secondary school.

I’m not sure why the school have offered to help, as it does seem to be giving you false hope.

What is the admission criteria for the school? Do you meet it? Is it because you aren’t in the catchment area? Why haven’t you started to apply for EHCP?

Appealing may not be a waste of time depending on how many the school admit each year.

There are admissions and appeals experts on here who will be along and can offer expert advice. Find out the admissions criteria and post it here in the meantime.

This is from school website:

1. Children with SEN statement first
2. Children in public care / adopted children
3. Other vulnerable children (under protection plan, previously been in care etc.
4. Children who have siblings already at the school
5. Children who suffer with medical condition / disability which makes it better for them to attend this school than another
6. Proximity - shortest walking distance to preferred school minus shortest walking distance to the next plus 100 to create a ranking value

I'm really annoyed about the EHCP. Was told numerous times by nursery teacher that no point submitting it yet. Should have just done it myself then maybe we wouldn't be in this situation

You keep saying it's the closest school to you but that's irrelevant. It's not which school is closest to the child, it's which children are closest to the school.

@Bamboux it seems a lot have obviously applied in our area then and he has missed out because of the class sizes

So presumably you would come under criteria 6?

From what you've said, it doesn't appear that their criteria have been misapplied.

So basically there is no point appealing. My only hope is the waiting list which I know I am on but can't know position until after the 2nd May..

Do you believe that the information you supplied would have put your son in category 5 rather than 6? You need to find out what category they assessed him as being in

@myrtleWilson I would have thought 5 to be honest rather than 6. I did put additional information on the application & have tons of evidence to back this up, which also states he struggled to settle in his nursery now and it took a long time for him to do so. Obviously this must count for nothing though

Sounds like u r over thinking it, SEN children often go to special schools where they wouldn’t know anyone and they cope so yr argument wouldn’t stand.
Get the EHCP, and go from there, but don’t assume they wouldn’t cope elsewhere.