Appeal help please

[silverlining2]

I have drafted my appeal & just about to press submit. However I am concerned about whether or not to include a major background point to our case of my son's dad having ongoing stuggles with a gambling addiction?

He does not live in the family home anymore (& hasn't done so for many years due to this). He is still a very active parent & does work & is a normal person to the outside world he just clearly has very serious battles that have resurfaced again during this past month due to his own job security stress etc.

My question is, this clearly does have an impact on my child & they do suffer from mild anxiety & internalise their own worries around this topic. I always communicate openly & we have never had to disclose this issue to the current school because it's not effecting anything like that. But I am scared it could also make us look like undesirable candidates rather than a child they would want at there school I really have no idea what to do. Written down it could read so bad & that is not the case. DC does not stuggle at school or anything either he is a friendly, happy child who is content & popular with students & teachers alike. But he has only known current primary school & those friends. He's still in a bubble & hasn't realised it will all change in Sept! And as of now he will be going to a school out of our town with not 1 friend if we cannot win this appeal/get a place from the list. He does seem pretty chilled with that & actually I have no reservations on the other school either.

Would you include this as I am trying to highlight DC's social need to be closer to their current support system/peers especially as we have NO other family support at all, no grandparents etc. It is just the 4 of us! Or does it make us look awful?

Secondly to that I had planned on attending the appeal in person. Does that give us the best advantage or could the appeal panel still send me any questions they have by post? Or do they make decisions in my absence just in written submission if I do not attend (due to embarrassment now)?

Also will they advise current school/other agencies of this issue due to a safeguarding issue because this has never come up beforehand & shouldn't need to?

I'm.not sure about including that info but I definitely think you should attend.

Thank you Ratatouille76... me either

It's difficult to know how to describe his lack of confidence & anxiety at times (also surrounding his studies becoming increasing evident of late with the SAT's too). I don't blame it soley on his dad's issues. He does seem to just nor believe his own capabilities despite him doing pretty well I all his subjects.

You can mention his anxiety - I assume you have evidence from counsellor, GP? But why on earth would his dad's addiction be a reason for this specific school, unless it has a support unit for children of addicts or similar?

Remember you're appealing for this specific school, your reasons need to relate to this school, science club where the allocated school has none etc. Absolutely mention any need to be with a peer group due to anxiety beyond normal nervousness, and say due to family break up, but they really don't need details as to the root cause.

And yes turn up. They won't email you questions, they'll make a judgement based on what you have supplied.

Tictchy, thank you. They do offer an exceptional pastoral unit yes not addiction specific no! I am sure you can tell this is my 1st appeal process & it has been a long & testing month already so for this issue to rear it's head at this time & cause unnecessary added pressure has thrown my whole mindest at this precise moment. So I was just seeking some clarity from an objective POV. I am trying to highlight his need for a local school surrounding him with his familiar support network as he has no family other than myself.

But thank you for your help & no I do not have gp/counsellor support as stated it has never go that far. I manage his & all of our stresses as best I can.

Remember you're appealing for this specific school, your reasons need to relate to this school, science club where the allocated school has none etc.

As I understand it this is crucial.

I would say that from your description that this will have no bearing at present on why your son should be admitted to your preferred school, so I do not think that it will have much relevance.
I can easily see situations where this would be very relevant in an appeal but you indicate that father is still an active partner to your son. What you might want to do is reinforce the point that father does not live at home because of an addiction without any detail, leave it as that but tie it to the further evidence that son needs as much support around him as possible. That then gives the panel the opportunity to ask further questions if they think it might be appropriate.