Secondary appeals and CAMHS

[jjk110604]

Hi, I'm new on here but want a bit of advice please.

I am currently appealling for a secondary school place for my eldest daughter. The background to the appeal is: our family has been through a very traumatic time in the last few years, having lost family members in a car crash and then my nieces and nephews becoming estranged from our family as my other sister lost custody of her children because she couldnt cope.
This has resulted in my daughter becoming very anxious and panic's especially when going to school if she isnt with her friends. She has become very dependent and relies heavily on her friends since she has lost her cousins. She has been seen by CAMHS who have now closed her case but she still has the problem. They have not put anything in their report to say that she must go to a high school with her friends but this is what I have based my appeal on as all of her friendship group and best friend are attending the school we are appealling.

Sorry to go on but I would just like to know if anyone has been in a simlar situation and did the appeal panel take into account when you explained that it wasnt just a case of their child going to a the same school as their friends but you felt that they would suffer socially and emotionally if they didnt.

Hope this makes sense and would appreciate any help x

You could really do with some evidence from an independent expert saying your daughter needs to stay with her friends. That would make your case much stronger. At the moment it is basically you saying that your daughter needs to be with her friends and, whilst your reasons are stronger than many, it is still just your opinion as far as the panel are concerned. An expert would give the panel far more reason to believe that your daughter really does need to be with her friends more than other children of her age.

thank you for your reply. I have the information from CAMHS saying about her friends but it doesnt say that she must stay with them in high school. I am waiting for a letter from 3 teachers at school who know my daughter and support the appeal. I have also got a letter from her best friends mum to confirm that I do have to take her daughter to school every day to stop my daughter having panic attacks.

Do you think I should give CAMHS a call and see if they would put something in writing for me.

Thanks again x

I've knowledge of CAMHS because my DD needed their help. Suggest you call your daughter's old CAMHS support worker who will be able to advise you and hopefully re-open her case. If You need to go down the formal route, go back to your GP and request another referal to CAMHS.

Good luck and though it is almost impossible, try not to let worry overwhelm you. Your daughter already has an advantage over some children because she has a supportive mum. Good luck.

There is also a service in London which helps parents with appeals for secondary school, they can give you really good advice as to what information will strengthen your case, where to go etc.
They will also come with you if you would like and it's all on a voluntary basis.
The company is based in north London, I don't know what area you are in but I would imagine there are places like this all over if that is too far away?

If it is local(ish) to you, I can give you their info?

mutteroo thanks for the replies and advice. I have contacted CAMHS advisor today and she said to send the report that she did, which I have, and to pass on her details and if they want any additional information from her she is willing to support the information that I have already given. For her to send a letter she would have to re-open the case.

Tantrumsandballoons Unfortunately we are in the North West and I dont think we have any service like that, but if you could give me their details of the service near you, I could contact them to see if there is one.

Thanks again

As it happens I live in the north west. I am not aware of anyone offering a free service but you will get plenty of advice and information here.

It sounds to me like the CAMHS advisor has no knowledge of the admission appeals system. It is no good her saying that they can contact her for additional information. They won't. And the letter you already have won't convince an appeal panel from the description you give. You either need to get her to write the letter you need or find some other expert who will examine your daughter and write something appropriate.

I confirm what PRH has said is correct, as a panel we cannot go searching for other information we have to make decisions on the information given to us.

You need to talk to the CAMHS advisor and get them to re-open the case file, so that she can write a letter. The letter needs to say that from the discussions with your daughter it is clear that she is now very dependent on her friends for support and in the opinion of CAMHS she should be allowed to go to a school with her friends. Anything that says mrs X tells me is of no use at all.

Teachers should not write the kind of letter you require, it is against the code on admissions for a teacher to favour one pupil over another. So you might not get such as letter.

can i have the company name based in North London please?

They are called Clerks Associates, they are based in London Road, enfield
I don't know how to post a link
but if you google the name they are the first hit.

This is the number 02089203662

Hope it helps

thanks for the advice, I will give her a call and see if she can re-open the case so she can do a letter for me.

Hope this works, fingers crossed