Year 3 School Transfer Appeal - Advice Needed

masonj3

Hi I am about to put together an appeal for my daughter and wuld appreciate as much advice as possible if people are able to help.

My daughter will go into year 3 in Sept 17. Since starting reception my daughter has been bullied throughout her school life in a variety of ways with a lot of physical instances. I have tried to work with her current school but although some things have been implemented the problems still exist and have worsened and my daughter has been asking to move schools for the last 18months.

We are currently 2nd on the waiting list for the school we would like and there is a child due to leave at the end of july this year. My daughter has been diagnosed with anxiety due to the contined ongoing bullying and has been referred to a youth mental health team. My GP has written a suportive letter to the admissions dept to see if we could get a higher admissions priority under medical criteron. - Admissions have refused to accept the medical information as they say that the condition is not serious or on going and say that they only accept letters from consultants or specialists. My daughter does not have a specialist as it was previously felt that at this age counselling would not help and she is too young to take medication - our GP feels that as her condition is worsening she now needs specialist intervention and it is in the process of being arranged but wont be in place in time for an appeal.

I do not have many schools to choose from due to some very personal family information which I am willing to share with admissions but do not want to mention online as it is of a sensitive nature but there is just one local school that we are applying for.

I have no idea if I will be successful or not but I feel that I have to try, my daughter has many close friends at the school we are trying to get in which she has made through out of school activities so I believe all though a huge step that my daughter will find the transition easy.

I am stuggling with putting my grounds for appeal together - do I keep it basic and enhance on matters during the hearing or do I mention absolutely everything in my appeal letter ? I am just worried about bombarding with too much information - can anyone offer any advice please? Thank you

Spendless

When mine were younger, the class size of 30 didn't apply from yr3 onwards and both mine were in classes larger than this. I don't know if this is still the case (mine are now 17 and 14) but I'd think it was worth asking the question.

IAmWales

Spendless is correct about infant class sizes not applying from year 3, but the school will still have a defined maximum class size. This can be affected by not only the physical space available but also the needs of the existing class.

mason I sit on appeals panels and we would not allow an appeal based solely on a GP letter, whilst I'm not doubting your case GP's give out far too many letters for them to be given weight without other evidence. Added to that you have not sufficiently demonstrated why another school could not meet your daughter's needs. This is key for allowing an appeal on special educational needs, you have to demonstrate why *only* this school can provide your daughter with an appropriate education.

On a positive you're second on the list. It's quite possible a place will come up anyway.

masonj3

Hi

Thank you both for your replies - I don't think I'm going to be successful ��. I had hoped that the extent of the bullying when explained in full along with the diagnosis, gp letter and referral would help.

My daughter is suffering all local schools are over subscribed - I am a single parent and disabled the school we are hoping to appeal to us nearer to my moms as she helps me out no end with my daughter due to my disability - my daughter has friends at the school who do not bully her and I had just simply hoped I may have a case.

Valli

Have you included your personal reasons in the appeal? Your disability &. Need to be close to you own mother, who supports you, must surely also count. Just a thought.

masonj3

Hi I will be mentioning those factors too xx

kingfisherblue

Schools have a duty of care towards all children, and if bullying is continuing at her present school, I would mention that they have not managed to prevent several incidents taking place, despite the fact that they have been successful in some areas. Therefore you do not feel that her current school is suitable for her to attend. In addition, explain that the GP has now arranged for specialist intervention and you are awaiting an appointment, but it won't be before the appeal. I've no idea if it will help, but definitely worth mentioning. My son was bullied terribly at secondary school, and in the end, the police became involved.

If you feel that the details are too much, try using bullet points. It means that text is broken up and is easier to read. It is also easier for you to expand on a specific point if required.

pinkshoes

Could you not consider home schooling her for a while until the place becomes available?

No doubt the person first on the waiting list also has reasons they want their child in that school.

Spendless

I'd still make the first step, a call to the school you are 2nd on the waiting list for and ask if and how many spaces open up for yr3.

I've remembered that when I looked round a small school nearby contemplating it for my son in a few years time, another couple were looking to move their 2 already at school children and were told that though they had space for one kid, they didn't have space for the yr2 child, they then mentioned that they also opened up just 2 more spaces when it came to yr3.

Depending on the schools answer, you may not need an appeal and often appeals are about has the school applied the correct procedure when allocating spaces, so you may not be successful.

masonj3

Thank you all. There is a family leaving the school at the end of this term which is why I had hoped that the medical information may have been acceptable.

Once this place is offered to the child above my daughter we would then be first on the list unless anyone else with a higher admissions priority joins the list. I will try to appeal looking at old data the class sizes have been above 30 once in the past and all I can do is just give the appeal my best shot.

The appeal form doesn't have a lot of space and it says to add extra paper if required. I'm just not sure how much info to include straight away or should I hold some back eg what I have found out about previous class sizes until I Have actually received confirmation of my appeal date and the official reasons for refusal which will be due to the school being full?

Thank you all I don't hold my hopes up but I have to try xx

Savvy_Sue

Don't hold information back: if you have it, use it - as long as it's relevant! I'm not sure that your disability and the support you get from your mother ARE relevant: it's your DD's needs which matter.