I am starting this campaign because when applying for primary school you instantly just assume that if you have a child already there then the sibling will automatically get a place. However this isn't the case. Catchment goes above siblings. I have a son who is part of SEN and has an ehcp in place therefore we struggle with different battles each day. The primary school he goes to is amazing and the help he receives is wonderful. However we are just a little out of catchment area, 0.7 to be exact. When then applying for my next child to join him in September I was refused this an given a different school on the other side of the area we live. Therefore now my two young children are supposed to go to different schools. This caused me a lot of stress, worry and upset. I then had to appeal this decision. Unfortunately this appeal was denied due to it reaching the legal limit. However i believe the appeal process is unfair, i strongly built up a case when several says before i was given a line up of how the appeal would go. When reading this I new i was fighting a loosing battle. How do they expect one person to deal with two different schools for the children, that comes along with so many challenges which nobody should have to face. Why siblings isn't a priority is confusing because the parent already travels there, in catchment or not. The reason i live out of catchment is because of rent prices, near the school is almost double to what i pay in the area i am in. Why should you be discriminated because of this.
I want to set up this campaign so no other family have this stress that I had to deal with. My children do go to different schools and the pick up, drop off is already a rush and stress, and that's just the beginning. I also have a third child that has to take these journeys with us. Siblings should have priority over catchment no matter what area you are in. I have spoken further with local mps and professionals within the education sector and found that I wasn't heard and my family and other families in this situation have now been let down. Please support this campaign to make a change.