In year transfer - year 8

[Tirednorthern78]

Hoping for some advice/guidance.

To cut a long story short I have a half sister who is about to go into year 8. She was previously identified as a child in need in her previous local authority as being neglected and at risk of emotional abuse. CIN we’re involved for 9 months and then ceased when she transferred to year 7 last year to secondary school.

The last 12 months have not been happy for her. Her mother remarried several years ago and they’ve now split up. As a result she’s been made homeless. My dad (who is a pensioner) has had enough of the excuses by her mother and now has physical custody of her (this has been done on a voluntary arrangement but we’re seeking residency order pronto). I’ve spoken to social services and as I am going to do shared care, we’ve approached social services about getting me having parental responsibility in case anything happens to our dad. We’ve been advised to apply for a special guardianship order (which would make her a looked after child) once she’s been in my care for 6 months.

The problem is school. She will be going into year 8 and now I’m suddenly looking to find a secondary school as soon as possible. As she’s previously been under social services but not looked after child does this carry any weight with a school application? She’s a very vulnerable child, and the only school we’ve been informed with places is one of the local comps, of which is in special measures and I don’t believe would meet her emotional needs given her vulnerability. Can anyone offer any advice? Or how long this will take. Conscious that we’re in summer holidays and it’s unlikely she’ll start school in September 😭

I think that even if you don't get a place on application you would stand a good chance on appeal if you word it properly. @prh47bridge @PatricaHolm may well be able to advise.

Thank you that’s helpful and reassuring. I’ve no idea what to include as a supporting statement. I’ve emailed social services getting a copy of all information and I’ve asked for a letter confirming she was identified as child in need to include. I’m trying to contact her secondary school as I understand they did intervention work with her before covid started again and they were thrown out

Presumably you are picking a school with a good reputation for pastoral care?
If so then at appeal you'll need to evidence what they have that is so good that your sister will be disadvantaged if she doesn't get it compared with the disadvantage to the school of taking on an additional pupil.
So anything like:

• ofsted reports mentioning specific things they do in pastoral care
• any nurture or social skills groups
• any onsite counselling
• child centred behaviour approach (not one size fits all)

So really why are you picking the chosen school specifically.

You can also include any clubs they run that are of particular interest (especially if not avaiolable at offered school).

The issue I can see is if it goes to appeal you might need to start at a less suitable school first, resulting in yet another move. This is potentially where getting SS involved might help, but I don't know how much flexibility schools have in there circumstances.

if you need to contact a school this is the week to do it as A level results are out tomorrow and GCSEs on Thursday so there will be senior leadership in, even if busy on something else.
I'd be tempted to drop an email in marked URGENT Place enquiry for looked after child (even if she isn't officially) as you may find someone is willing to arrange to talk to you.

Best wishes (adopter who knows how important pastoral care is).

You are right that LAC would give you a priority placement. It should also mean that the authority should be placing the LAC in an Ofsted rated good or outstanding school. CIN and CP unfortunately don't carry any influence. However, please don't write off the local comp. If it is in special measures, it will be on a plan for rapid improvement and unless in the ofsted report safeguarding is the stated as the reason for the judgement you may find that they have strong pastoral support.

Call/email the schools you are interested in and enquire to the length of their waiting lists for that year group. Look at their admissions criteria as some schools have different ways to prioritise placement.

Thank you that’s really helpful, the school that we quite like the look of is a faith school with really good pastoral care. I’ve asked my vicar (we regularly attend church with my two children) if he would support our application and he has said yes.

I wouldn’t rule out the local comp solely on ofsted. However knowing that the school is of risk of closure - means on this grounds I wouldn’t consider it. That and low level bullying has been identified as areas for concern over last 3 ofsted / inspection reports. Given she’s going to have a noticeable accent she’ll stick out like a sore thumb

If she becomes an LAC she will have priority for admissions purposes. Being a CIN or former CIN does not give priority. However, under the new Admissions Code, she is eligible to be considered under the LA's Fair Access Protocol if she has been a CIN within the last 12 months. The circumstances may make an appeal panel sympathetic but won't necessarily win an appeal. Hope it works out for her.