Basis of appeal

[SecondaryConfusion]

Our catchment school is oversubscribed and DS didn't get a space.

DS has been offered a local boys school - was our last choice as insurance against being allocated a school miles away.

I'm trying to think of ways to approach the appeal. Would any of the below be worth pursuing - would be grateful for any MN'ers wise advice as the reasons don't seem to be very sound to me (yet).

DS was assessed for dsypraxia years ago, was found to have traits but not enough to get formal statement. He's muddled through - the clumsiness means he plays less sport but he has coped so far into a nurturing school. As he is clumsy he's had teasing and finds it hard to mix with groups of boys. They pick up on the fact he's not as able and are not sympathetic.

Can I say that the catchment school is a good fit for him because it's got a very nurturing ethos and as a co-ed it is good for him because he has found it easier to have mixed friendship groups due to boys only groups being over-whelming as he's not as great physically as others?

Should I get him reassessed for dyspraxia - will that help or would it be seen as something any school could cope with?

Some long paragraphs there - sorry!

Thanks Tiggy thats really useful advice. I can research provision at the school and build on these points.

Should I get evidence of dyspraxia to back it up? Or at the very least evidence that DS is behind where he should be at his age with co-ordination etc, which leads to him being embarrassed etc? Do expert options count where its not been commissioned by the school / doctor - can I pay a reputable OT to assess DS and write a letter?

He is going to be embarrassed at being assessed again so I'd like to get it right. He likes to act as if everything is fine and he hasn't just spilt his drink again, or ploughed into something again. I'm going to have to be careful how I and the OT position any assessment with him.

(Which in itself is evidence of why he needs to be with class mates who have grown up with him and accept him the way he is!).

I am hoping against hope I kept all the paperwork from his last assessment so it gives us a starting point. Didn't think I'd need it all these years later.

Thanks Tiggy. We were referred by GP and got a report. I think it was sent on to school but there was no specific provision for him. I’ll go looking for everything I can find.