Moving schools - ehcp and siblings

[Hazel222]

Hi please bare with me but I need help!
I've recently moved house and live miles away from my children's school, my son has an EHCP so I feel like moving him to the school by the new house isn't an issue, it's his sister. The school I want has no space for my daughter nor my son yet the EHCP will still gain him his place. Where do I stand with siblings? I'm a single mum who doesn't drive? I can't physically be at two schools for the same time and the Commute to the current school is too long for my son hence trying to move to the more local one as not getting home till 5.30 most evenings. I don't know what to do as I don't want to push for his application to move if I can't be guaranteed his sister will be able to also go. But he is seriously suffering with the super long days of travel to the current setting?

Has anyone had anything similar or know if there's any rights for siblings?

Sorry if this doesn't make much sense I just know I need to move them both together and scared it's not actually physically possible at the moment.

How old are they? If you move him, his sister will go high up the waiting list (possibly top) but will only get a place if there is one available or you appeal and are successful. Appeals are slightly easier to win for year 3 and upwards but still a long process. It is worth asking where she is on the waiting list now, and whether that would change if she had a sibling at the school.

Are there any other schools nearly with spaces for your daughter? Either to put them both in or just your daughter. It's not ideal but might be more doable if the other school was close by. If you could find a space for your daughter, you could then request for your son too via his EHCP.

How far away is your current school? In miles as well as time. Your LA will have to find a place somewhere if it is a big distance, but given you are already commuting it they might feel her current school is still a reasonable option. It's all so difficult, I hope you get it sorted.

Thank you so much for your reply! My son is 4 and reception and my little girl is year 3. I've only just put them on the waiting list with only moving here in September, there are other schools in the area but my main issue is travel as my little boys not a huge fan. Hence the closest school being my first choice.
Their current schools 4 miles away but takes hour and a half to get to sometimes more depending on buses and times as its 2 there and two home.
I'm totally new to all of this and no idea how it all works, have you had to deal with an appeal yourself? I'm wanting to try and keep them both in the same school setting as I can't physically get them both in on time to two separate schools. I feel like it's such a grey area and there's not much help out there for siblings of ehcp because it's still in her brothers best interest for them both to move together otherwise he's still going to have to travel with me to put her in breakfast club/afterschool club and then the days still as long.
Sorry for the rant one very stressed out mama 😂 x

Being a sibling of a pupil with an EHCP doesn’t confer any advantage over other siblings when looking at oversubscription criteria. DD being in Y3 means an appeal is more likely to be successful.

You will need to request an early review of DS’s EHCP.

If DC end up attending different schools you could look at transport for DS. You could also look whether there is a childminder for DD who would be easier to collect from than afterschool club.

There might be priority on the waiting list, if siblings are higher than distance on the admissions criteria, but not to be awarded a place. You could appeal though. What year is your dd?

Ah, see year 3 so an appeal may be successful as Infant Class Size restrictions do not apply.

The nearest school may not be the best school, your son will go in as an excepted pupil, so 31 in the class, possiblyother EHCP children, high need, look at the schools nearer, but make a decision on how you feel they will support your son, travel is important, but not all schools/cohorts are equal. The school may say no, not common, but again may depend on existing need in the class.

It’s unfortunate that your closest school doesn’t have places, but have you looked at other schools nearby that you could get to easily on public transport? You’re currently travelling four miles on two buses, but are there any schools further along your first bus route, or on that route but in the opposite direction, that would be a simpler/shorter commute, door to door?

You could approach these schools to find out about the SEN provision and whether they have spaces.

Have you asked your preferred school where your DD is on the waiting list? If she is first that is good news (although it can obviously change). If she is further down, then it could be worth trying to move your son first to move her up the waiting list (assuming sibling priority applies).

I haven't personally appealed. As other posters have said, it is a bit easier from year 3 onwards, as the rules on capping the class at 30 are less strict. However that doesn't make it easy. You would need to have reasons why your daughter needs that school and logistics/reasons related to your son probably won't be enough. If you decided to appeal, you could ask for advice here.

The fact their current school is 4 miles away is potentially a bit of an issue too, as it is (in distance) not an unreasonable distance if you could drive it, but obviously the public transport options are awkward.

Your options realistically are:

• look at other schools that have space for your daughter and are more convenient than the current school
• wait and hope for a place - here it would be good to know where she is on the waiting list at present.
• start moving your son to push your DD up the waiting list. Then either manage both for a while (probably impossible unless you can afford taxis or breakfast/afterschool club for your son or have someone else to help), appeal (no guarantee of winning) or homeschool (don't know how long a place will take)

I appreciate none of this is great, and it must be frustrating for you, as the system makes moving very tricky often.

Dear All,

I have a question that l need help with. My son recently moved in an ARP through Tribunal and due to his two siblings being in in his previous school and due to transport issues as l could not make both schools. L decided to do a in year transfer for my daughter. The transport took longer and the same day received about transport is the same received news about my daughter coming to the school. My son who is in the ARP still takes transport and l still need to bring daughter in. I have spoken to transport and explained daughter had not settled and the other little one is still at the old school in nursery. Informed transport will continue even if child has sister in school however in school being told that no as sister is coming same school transport to stop? Who is right in this matter? Also due to other family changes left son on transport as not so sure if daughter does not settle what happens then if she needs to get back? I have no idea whether my son in nursery would go same school so l did not want to cancel and then be stuck again. Am l being selfish? What would you do in this situation?

@BeWarmPombear transport can remain in place even if a sibling attends the same school.