Thread: Posted and unable to find a school place for kids

Sorry not posted for a while still settling in.

Anyway........
We finally moved here on 16th January and straight away i contacted all the local schools for my 7 year old and 4 year old, who will be starting in Sept. All of them advised me that they had no places for my 7 year old so i would have to go through the council. After lots of problems with the council i was last week finally offered separate schools for them. I already have an 11 year old in Secondary school so told them i was not prepared to be driving round 3 different schools and want the younger two in the same school. The council were not happy with this and could not see what the problem was, then yesterday i had a call to say they have a place for both of them a few miles but the council would provide a taxi. I know this is not an ideal situation but i have been told by the council this is my last option there is nothing else available. Thinking about how much he has been bored and driving me mad for all this time i went to look at the school today.
Oh my god it was like something out of the east end of London. Ofsted report is very bad, teachers looked like they had been on day release from a young offenders institute and children looked like they were from some war torn country. I left the school in tears as i do not want my kids in this school. Does anyone have any advice on what i can do now as i am already concerned about the amount of time he has been off.

Try here!

Thankyou that was a lot more helpful than anywhere i have been yet

I have now contacted CEAS and waiting for them to get back to me, lol hopefully i will explain it better to them than i did on here i was just so wound up plus hubby is off to a sandy place tomorrow so a bit all over the place at the moment.

Thanks again
Jx

Does anyone know how the day-pupil CEA works?

Originally Posted by DozyBint

Does anyone know how the day-pupil CEA works?

As far as I'm aware you can only 'day pupil' children if you move into the area on posting. You can't do it by putting them into a boarding school close by a current posting because they'll still need to have to board for 12 months to make it legit. I think. Ready to be corrected!!

Originally Posted by bodger

Originally Posted by DozyBint

Does anyone know how the day-pupil CEA works?

As far as I'm aware you can only 'day pupil' children if you move into the area on posting. You can't do it by putting them into a boarding school close by a current posting because they'll still need to have to board for 12 months to make it legit. I think. Ready to be corrected!!

Ah, so on being posted to a new area you can't put a child into a boarding school as a day-pupil: it has to be a lucky coincidence that you get posted close to where the school is AFTER your child is already boarded there?

'Fraid so. Those pesky head sheds saw us coming!!

Mind you, if you're one of the lucky few who can pretty much guarantee where you're going to be for the the best part of a Forces career (we're not one of them unfortunately), then you can do some pretty judicious school choosing!

Originally Posted by bodger

'Fraid so. Those pesky head sheds saw us coming!!

Mind you, if you're one of the lucky few who can pretty much guarantee where you're going to be for the the best part of a Forces career (we're not one of them unfortunately), then you can do some pretty judicious school choosing!

I think most people are in your position, unfortunately. I was asking on behalf of a friend who has a child (but not the internet!) and she's not happy about the school choices when she moves to the next posting. When I spotted the day-pupil rates I wondered if it might be of help to them to get their little girl into a good local school. I thought there would probably be a catch! :roll:

"some times" if you have a "chat" with the bursar an arrangement can be made...

Read into that what you will!

I thought by law the council were not allowed to refuse you a place at the school of your choice. It was in the military families welfare charter that was issued last year.

Do you live in quarters? Even if you don't, you need to speak to welfare and get them to help you. I think they have to put you in the school nearest where you live.

I was initially told by the council before i was posted that because it was a service posting i would be entitled to a place at the nearest school but that all seemed to change when we got here.
I have now spoke to CEAS and they have said i can appeal against the decision (which i should have been informed in the first place by the council) on the grounds that my husband is in the armyand is going away as from tomorrow. CEAS were really helpful and are going to help me through the appeal, so hopefully i shoud soon get the school of my choice.
Only downside is my son could still be waiting for another few weeks for a place.
PR_Totty - Yes i do live in the quarters. Do you know where i can see the welfare charter as this could maybe help with my appeal.

Jx

I know that one of our former neighbours had a HELL of a time with their schooling and continuity...and when they moved (given last-minute warning, as per usual) not only did their children not get into the schools of their choices, but the appeal was particularly brutal in their "sod off" from the LEA , who really couldn't have given a rat's arse about them.

(sorry, I just really feel for people in this situation)

This was the response of a local council of a local Armed Forces couple who were already "published" and "supported" in their local paper - "the backing of the community for their armed forces" when the husband was flown back from the first Gulf War at the end of his tour/near end, for the birth of his first son. He was hailed a "local hero" and yet there they were, being treated worse than parents of ASBO kids ...

I hate to say it, but be prepared for an unholy fight to get the school places, based on "forces preferential treatment" and get as MANY organisations involved.

All this "top of NHS lists/first for educational needs" from the councils isn't backed up properly.

Our neighbour even got their MP involved...still didn't get the school they wanted and didn't have the cash for a private school by themselves , either.

It's disgusting, frankly - and more support SHOULD be given. :roll:

Stunjanice

Ref. Welfare Officer - each unit has a welfare officer - depends what area you're in etc. - your husband should definitely know.

If he's going on deployment, you should have also received a "welfare letter" and a phone call - at least 10 days before he left - with the UWO (Unit Welfare Officer) introducing themselves and inviting you to a pre-deployment meeting (depending on where you are/what your hubby does etc. of course)

I got sweet FA when mine went away - I received the initial welcome to deployment pack, and that was it. Fecking useless - husband was irate, to say the least, to find out that no one had been in touch when he was away, especially given our remote location, my personal circumstances and the fact we had no neighbours AT all.
:evil:

Make sure that SOMEONE does their job, lovely!

Originally Posted by CocoaKid

I got sweet FA when mine went away - I received the initial welcome to deployment pack, and that was it. Fecking useless - husband was irate, to say the least, to find out that no one had been in touch when he was away, especially given our remote location, my personal circumstances and the fact we had no neighbours AT all.
:evil:

Off topic, so apologies. But I'm in the same boat. Got the 'Welcome to Single Parent-dom' letter from AFF and a booklet from husband with details of what they'll do if he cops it; 4 months into a 9 month-er and I've heard bugger all from anyone. I don't need any help personally (which is good news for them) but what about the poor sod who's struggling but has no-one to turn to? Another topic for another day!

On the original subject of schools though - I feel for you, I really do. I often wonder though that if the school is quite literally full, then what would an appeal actually do anyway? Would the LEA bump another kid out to make way for ours or employ a new teacher etc to take the weight of the extra numbers? It's a minefield and one we could really do without. In an ideal world all the schools would be at the same (good) level and the kids would go to the school closest to home. Oops. I'm talking sense. Forgive me!!

Now that CEAS is involved not sure if there is much more that welfare can do for me, on saying that might pop in tomorrow to introduce myself and ask them to double check my phone no as i have not heard anything from them yet hee hee!

Good luck. I have had a look for the charter but I can't lay my hands on it. Ask at the HIVE - 'what are the rights for children of serving regards schooling?' Also ask them about the charter- they might have it. Try and find out very clearly what are your rights? And ask 'why are they not being met?'

Speak to the Hive, SSFA, CEAS, welfare and the CO - you cannot have too many people supporting you in this matter.

If you don't mind me asking - where are you based?

Please let me know how you get on - we are currently chatting with C5 news about this issue.

It is another example of the Govt saying one thing - military families cannot be turned down for a school places but at the coalface the reality is very different.

Don't give up and fight for your kids. They deserve better. Don't be ashamed of asking for help and don't be ashamed of making a fuss - this is the future of your children you are fighting for - your husband chose the military, you and your husband chose each other but your kids they didn't choose this. It's time to fight.

PR_Totty- have pm'd you

I have to agree with what you have said but i have been told by a few people that if i speak to welfare,CO etc i will probably be told i have been offered a place and shoud accept it. I am no snob but there is no way my children will be going to that school as said before ofsted report is all 3s and 4s teachers have been described as inadequate most of the pupils have behaviour problems. Nearly all the school has learning problems to some degree, year 6 pupils are working in year 1 classes and big problem with staffing and pupil attendance and thats just some of it