Advice regarding school

teabag29

I moved over to the West Midlands in March and my 10 year old daughter is still not at school, it’s been a nightmare trying to get her a place and my son starts in September to when he’ll be 4. I have MS and other health problems and I can’t walk far outdoors due to pain and fatigue. The only place offered to my daughter is 1.6 miles away and my son has been offered a different one a 15 minute walk in the opposite direction (I’m a single parent with no Family just 2 elderly members in their late 70s that live half hour away on bus and don’t drive). I’ve sent in drs supporting letter and a letter from my ms nurse (there are 2 schools 2 minutes from house but both full apparently schooling is a real problem here) but they are saying these are the only places available and school transport need the school to be over 2 miles before they’ll help. What can I do I’m so worried

WillowCat

Is your daughter set to start a new school in September anyway? If so, it seems pointless to enrol her in primary now if she will need to go to secondary anyway.

If not, I assume she is already of secondary age. Can she not get the bus by herself? If no bus, can she cycle? At that age you would expect her to be able to cope with that journey by herself, so long as you have travelled with her so she is familiar with the route.

Can you manage the 15 minute (30 roundtrip) walk for your son? He would seem to be the most in need of your assistance. If not, you could look into how much a taxi service would cost - often not too expensive if booked as a regular service.

teabag29

She’s in year 5 so another year of primary yet, some days I may be able to manage my sons school if I take it easy but other days the pain is just too bad. My daughter doesn’t know the area yet, well neither do I to be fair. I’m not sure how much a taxi would be but the starting fair is £3.50 so that’s a minimum of £7 a day so £35 a week but she’s a very timid girl I don’t think she’d feel comfortable in a taxi alone and what would happen if they were all busy that day or she was late out or had a club and how will I cope on the days my pain is too bad to get my son to school. Is there no provision for people with disabilities in this kind of situation. I’m really at a loss what to do

silvercar

Would your son be entitled to a place at the same school as your daughter, as he is a sibling. At least then you have both in the same school.

KxMx

Try contacting your MP for help.

I don't think they can magic school places somewhere where you admit demand is high, it maybe they can get transport provision for you.

rach_k

What about some kind of mobility scooter for yourself (or even a regular scooter - micro scooters do some fun ones!)? Get the kids on scooters too and then you can scoot the school run together. You'd probably have a laugh. You can get non-branded ones very cheaply but decent ones like Micro Scooters are not too expensive second hand. If you are struggling to do a 15 minute walk, it sounds like a scooter of some kind (mobility?) might improve your life all round.

In Year 6 here, children are allowed to walk themselves to and from school and are allowed a basic, no internet mobile (handed in during the school day). You may find after the 5-6 weeks remaining of the school term, plus the summer holidays to practise, your daughter will be okay to get herself there and back. Or she will probably find people in her class who walk at least the last part of her journey so you could take her to the meeting point and then scoot off with your youngest to drop him off. School may be able to help you get to know some parents who walk from locally too, who might be willing to help out.

Tabbytabitha

Is a mile and a half really too far for a 10 year old to walk to school - does she have any health issues?

tacpot12

I think a 1.6 miles is too far for a 10 year old to walk to school - I'm pretty robust about children and keen that we shouldn't pander to them, but in this case I think it is too long a walk. Most children in the UK will walk 3/4 of mile to their primary school, so asking them to walk more than twice this is quite a big ask, and they don't know the area (yet), and you have to consider wintertime/wet weather/roads to be crossed etc. The walk will have to be done twice a day and in all weathers, sometimes carrying PE kit.

One option is for the OP to ask the school to help them find someone who lives near to their home, and could either offer a lift or at least someone to walk with who knows the way. The walk will be much safer done in a group, and will pass more quickly with some to talk to.

KxMx

Another thought, is there an appeals process for school places?

badmemory

Are there any (not sure what their proper name is) walking trains? Where a couple of adults walk one at the front one at the back, picking up kids as they go. This would seem the ideal solution for you for your oldest. Hopefully the school should know.


Have you written to your MP? When you get a no help response to that then maybe your local paper although that may be difficult for your children.