Hi there,
I have trawled through so many of these threads but am still really struggling. I'll explain my situation and hope that someone can help.
My daughter got given her second choice school, our local school, back in September. It was not our first preference.
She has had an absolutely awful time since attending. She has struggled with anxiety for years and I strongly suspect she has SEN. However the majority of her anxiety has been handled at home by us bar a few trips to the GP some years ago. I mentioned the potential SEN to her old school and was told there was no chance, I strongly believe this is because she presents very neurotypically outside the house and for the most part enjoyed the nurturing environment of her primary school.
The school she was sent to is known for being a school with terrible behavior, there is a high staff turnover, its always undersubscribed and has a pretty terrible reputation.
Quickly after attending her anxiety went through the roof and she became utterly miserable. She struggles with sensory issues and panic attacks and these both also went through the roof, mainly due to the behavior of others in class, the loud shouting and screaming, the uniform, the environment. Despite several meetings with the school nothing was really done other than a promise of a triage for a counsellor and a promise of school class changes (the behavior in her class was exceptionally bad, her head of year told me) that never materialized. After a few months of this the anxiety and school refusal (she's never school refused before) became so bad that I literally cannot get her into school anymore, I'm talking massive meltdowns, hysterical tears in the morning, barricading herself in her room etc. It was destroying her. So we're keeping her on roll atm and I'm waiting to hear back about how we will move forward whilst attempting to homeschool around two jobs.
There is a school a little further away (we are just out of catchment) that she is desperate to attend. When we went to look around she couldn't believe students were actually learning, loved the environment, the comfier uniform. I strongly believe by attending a school with a nurturing environment and strong pastoral care that she will once again like school and thrive.
We have applied and been denied which we knew would happen and are 4th on the waiting list. I am planning on appealing but I'm worried my argument is weak.
Some facts-
They are already 6 over PAN in year 7.
I have a letter from GP confirming anxiety based school refusal supporting moving school.
I have a letter from her old headteacher specifically naming the other school and that my daughter would be far better there.
I have registered with wellbeing service.
We are on the pathway to a diagnosis now.
I'm wondering how to best base my appeal. Would it be better to keep her on or bring her off roll? Would a private diagnosis help?
Thankyou so, so much to anyone who has read this far I really appreciate any and all advice on how how to best win this appeal and get my girl back to a school she feels happy at.