Appeals help

[RaspberryStar88]

Hi newbie here, we’ve had our offer and son has been offered 3rd choice. Not a great school at all. We’re going to appeal 2nd choice, on the grounds of mental health. Son has high functioning anxiety which primary school are very aware of (and will hopefully provide some supporting letters) although son isn’t diagnosed. School we want has great SEND. Outdoor curriculum and lots of great sporting opportunities for son which would really benefit him. Offered school has none of this and awful reputation for bullying and SEN children failed miserably. Can anyone give me advice of what to do/not to do for a successful appeal. Sat here in tears, we’re in Birmingham too which has a very low success rate…

@RaspberryStar88

Also his two friends who are his support network and he relies heavily upon, both will attend preferred school. My son needs to keep this support network. Offered school not one member of his class is going to.

Friendships can change a lot at secondary. By all means mention friends in your appeal but I think it would be stronger if the support offered by your chosen school could be shown to be superior to that of the school you've been given.

I fear we are going round in circles here. As has been explained several times now, it is very common for parents to argue that their child is worried about starting primary/secondary school and wants to stay with friends from nursery/primary school. That is never enough for the panel to allow the appeal, as the panel will almost certainly take the view that all schools know how to help nervous new starters settle in. To stand any chance of success, parents will need to show that this nervousness is on a level where it can be regarded as a medical need to be at this school, confirmed in the opinion of a health care professional.

As PatriciaHolm explained, in the current climate there are likely to be even more appeals mentioning anxiety or mental health needs. That isn’t to belittle your son’s problems at all, but it means that now more than ever the panel will expect you to show that there’s something different about the preferred school that means that it can meet your son’s needs while other schools can’t.

If you mention the outdoor curriculum, you therefore need to demonstrate how it would help your son. I’m sure every secondary school would say that it helps with pupils’ personal, social and emotional development, so why does your son need this particular programme?

We all know that physical activity improves mental health, but why is the provision so much better for your son at the preferred school? Surely the offered school has sports clubs too?

The questions above are rhetorical but I’m trying to show what the panel will be looking for and what your evidence needs to cover.

I would strongly advise against mentioning the offered school’s Ofsted rating or the number of pupils on free school meals etc. It will make you sound as if you consider yourself too good for that school and could backfire on you. For all you know, panel members have children at that school.

I can't offer any specific advice but would just like to add that if the offered school does have less than 400 pupils that is very small and actually could well provide a nurturing environment that larger schools cannot. Less chance to be lost!

Good luck.

@PanelChair I appreciate all your advice, I will try my best to gather as much support from as many professionals as possible. I obviously wouldn’t have mentioned the ofsted or free school meals at the appeal I was just letting you know the kind of school he had been offered..
the provision of sports clubs is completely different at preferred school they specialise in sports/outdoor activities etc. my son would benefit from this because they would push him to do things he wouldn’t do at the offered school. For example they have a rock climbing tower at the school, they have different outdoor and challenges my son wouldn’t come across at offered school. All these things are to encourage confidence self esteem etc.

Also we’re hoping to have the Ed psych assessment done by school if not I will get one done private. As his anxiety is a constant (not just from starting school) lots of different situations affect him terribly, it’s more than just a nervous child. I really believe he has an anxiety disorder. Hopefully the letter from his councillor and an assessment from Ed psych will prove all this.

I'm sorry to question you further - I hope you take it as trying to help you anticipate the sort of challenges you might get in an appeal :)
You mention the preferred school's sports and activities and them pushing him to do things like climbing. Do you do sports and activities with him now? Or support him to do any? Presumably a panel will wonder why the school is the only way of him doing this. You'll need to show why in school provision is needed.

If you want to get an independent EP report in time for an appeal you need to act quickly. Many currently have long waiting lists, some have waiting lists over 6 months which obviously help with the appeal.

I think you will need to show how the school you want can cater for the anxiety. Otherwise the panel will say that children with anxiety can be catered for by any school as they all have a senco and an obligation to meet the needs of children with send. I also think that unless you have other professionals involved, saying your son has a special need on the grounds of his mental health will be challenging. Is he on the SEN register? What does he currently access that is available in school B but not school C?

@PastMyBestBeforeDate no it’s fine, I’d rather go prepared for anything they will ask 😊 yes he currently does kickboxing once a week and swimming once a week, I push him to do these and it’s normally a struggle to get him to participate, but when he does he feels so good about himself!

@Imitatingdory yes I realise this I will be making phone calls tomorrow to try and secure one!

@cansu he currently doesn’t have any diagnosis but he does have counciling at school weekly. I will phone preferred school tomorrow and see what provision he could access if he were to secure a place, what they have in place for children with his specific needs. I will also call the offered school and ask the same, then I can compare the differences in my appeal.

Apologies, my pp should have said …which obviously won’t help you with the appeal.

"The offered school has 382 pupils in total 63% are on free school meals, 34% are SEN. The school is rated inadequate from ofsted."

I'm wondering what you think that means for your DS?

~63% on free school meals is irrelevant.
~34% on SEN register means that they are good at acknowledging and recognising SEN.
~An inadequate OFSTED rating means that the Local Authority will be all over them like a rash, with an injection of expertise and resources, so a rapid improvement is likely to occur.

The bottom line is that if you're lucky, the Ed Psych will recommend your preferred school. But they are professionals and they are obliged to write truthfully, so if they think his needs can be met at any school, they shouldn't be swayed by your wishes.

If your DS is the only appellant, then you might win quite easily. But you have to consider what will happen if 11, 20, 35 people appeal...where would your case sit in terms of strength? If a panel decides the school can only admit an extra 6, for example.

I'm glad you're going to approach the schools. You might be surprised at what the offered school tells you. Even if you're not, you'll be more informed.

Do you know where your DS is on the waiting list? It may not get to appeal.

As per previous posters, mental health is mentioned in a high proportion of appeal and you will need to demonstrate the impact this has on your DS.

It will not be sufficient to ask GP, others etc to put in writing what you told them to say.

I would be preparing your DS to proceed with allocated school just in case the result doesn't work in your favour.

Check what the deadline for submitting your appeal is too. The LA's website should have a timetable of panel dates.

*counselling

@Lougle I think i may have come across like the school isn’t good enough. Im sure the school is ok, but I feel the school we want would be better suited to my son. I will gather as much evidence as I can, and all I can do is try my best for him. My senco agrees with the preferred school being better equipped too and as she knows my son very well, knows that what I’ve said is truthful, maybe we don’t stand a chance, but we have nothing to lose either..
I suppose we all just want the best for our children. The secondary school he ends up going to will help shape his whole future.

@UserError012345 waiting lists aren’t available u til 21st March, I will call up then and see where we have placed. Hopefully it won’t get to appeal.
I wouldn’t be asking any professionals to put in writing what I told them to say, I’d be asking them for their honest opinion..
yes I have the appeal deadline and will sum it well before, thank you

"@Lougle I think i may have come across like the school isn’t good enough."

@RaspberryStar88 that is the way it reads and it is what I would think if I was on the appeals panel. You really need to focus your statement on the positives of the school you want and avoid at all costs criticising the offered school.

@Lougle thanks for your feedback

Hi does anyone know if the fact my son is on the SEN register if it affects my appeal in anyway or waiting list position?

Thanks

The fact he's on the register (assuming no EHCP) will have no affect on the waiting list.

If the school you are appealing for has some features that make it ideal for your son due to supporting his SEN in a specific way, and you can evidence that, then that is something that should be brought up, as previous posters have said. The mere fact of being on the register won't make a difference.

No being on the SEN register won’t affect your waiting list position. Have you heard any more information?

Thank you, no just getting together the last few bits for appeal. Appeal is through school directly so doesn’t open until 15th March.
Son is on Sen register but no echp so was wondering if it would have an affect on position.

Yes I have lots of supporting evidence from their own website on how they can support my sons specific needs. Also a supporting letter from primary school senco echoing what I’ve said in my letter too

Hello, I've just submitted my school appeal for 2022, deadline 1st May, appeals not heard until June. Would love some advice but a bit outing to post on a public forum...

I can't see a pm button, is there another way?