Lancing mother fights school decision
A MOTHER is appealing against a decision which means her children will have to go to a primary school more than a mile from home.
Jaime Ellingham moved to Lancing just after Christmas.
She was told by West Sussex County Council to wait until two weeks before the end of the autumn term before applying to her first two choices of school – North Lancing and The Globe.
When she was allocated a place for her two children, though, it was at Seaside Primary, in Freshbrook Road, Lancing – more than a mile from her home in Manor Road.
Disappointment
"We went to North Lancing at the beginning of December and we did know they were full, but we were told not to apply until later in the term because they would not know if there was anyone leaving until then," said 33-year-old Miss Ellingham.
"I couldn't believe we couldn't get something closer than a 45-minute walk.
"I am extremely disappointed."
Miss Ellingham's daughter, 10-year-old Yasmin Smith, is in year five and her son, seven-year-old Casey Smith, is in year three.
She chose not to accept the place at Seaside and has been home schooling them until the appeal date, but she said she was disappointed not to get them into a school before Yasmin's birthday on Sunday (January 17).
Lovely
"We are missing that chance to get them integrated," she said.
"I just really wanted them to be schooled in their local community.
"We went to look around North Lancing and it was very similar to what they are used to.
"The head teacher gave us the best part of an hour of his time and it just seemed like a lovely school."
Reasonable
Miss Ellingham is due to find out the result of her appeal on January 28.
A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: "When people move into an area, they contact admissions and complete an application form with their preferences.
"We would try to offer the highest preference where there is space.
"North Lancing Primary School usually fills at allocation and The Globe is also full in the year groups that Ms Ellingham has requested.
"The next nearest alternative school with space has been allocated, which is Seaside, which is within a reasonable distance from their home."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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