Just that really, but will explain for those who haven't seen my other threads ...
DD has Ehlers Danlos Hypermobility - with the linked POTs, IBS, Severe Anxiety ANS dysfunction, vulnerability to injury & CFS as relevant symptoms. Though as with mos EDSHers, bar injury time, this is very much an invisibly disability, but affects her badly.
We applied for our easiest to get to school, short, very straight bus ride away (travel sickness is a POTs symptom so this is good) & very short flat walk at the end - turned down on all school choices, stupid lottery system meant she was offered our worst local school, now an academy, starts earlier & it's a long way from home. Turned down fir a list if reasons, distance & bad with bullying being high up on the list.
We lost our yr 7 appeal - still don't know why as not given a reason in the letter - currently going through a local government ombudsman complaint, but our LA playing hard ball & waiting to hear if our complaint is still accepted - if so, LGO can't force a change of outcome, but may if we are very lucky, get a second appeal hearing - lots of other layers to this, but would be a novel.
Back up plan is to get DD accepted as a "Medical Need" for the schools waiting list - after initial hiccup where whilst DD was in hosptial - School Admissions passed over my enquiring as to how I go about this, with one medical letter to confirm diagnosis - this was passed on as my application - which I had to email & stop, saying Infelt it prejudiced our chances - it did 
I have now sent in covering letter explaining in detail why DD needs this school & 5 supporting medical/official letters, along with medical info explaining the condition & it's linked conditions & HMSA in schools booklet etc
To date I have had no acknowledgement of any of any if this, this was all sent a couple of weeks ago - day one I rang & my pack which I handed over at the offices front desk was said to have arrived in the correct department - a follow up email which included the correct copy of the covering letter - got no reply, nor has follow up emails - today's got an out of office reply, saying they were back at work yesterday - I have copied in main address & 2 people I've dealt with before -
1 of which I have been told I have to deal with & direct contact with the CCP refused - this worries me as this is the same person who was the LAs rep at our appeal hearing - & we have a complaint in process - so as much as I would hope they would be professional - I feel very uncomfortable about this as surely it is a direct conflict of interests - as in - if DD is accepted as Mecical Need on the Schools waiting, list, but we lost our medical grounds appeal
The phone lines are constantly closed, even though it says open up until 1 pm, so I can't speak to anyone & I've DD becoming more & more anxious & ill as a result of her currently having no high school to go to - me too for that matter :( - we had to change DDs school nit too long ago due to bullying & duty if care issues etc & the SA office were so quick to respond & helpful then, but very different this time.
Would anyone know how long it takes to process a medical needs school place application ???
& is there anyway I can find out who the CCP is & send directly to them too - I know we have only one
Hope that lot makes sense (migraine)
TIA
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Medical Needs Waiting List Place - How Long to Process?? - Anyway I Can Get Direct Contact with the CCP ??
RockinHippy · 29/07/2014 15:34
Thank you admissions :)
Got to be honest, I thought it very odd too, not like we are a village or small town & they must cover at a couple of dozen schools - especially as I was told weeks ago when I did through by phone that it has to be sent to the CCP & that "she" only works part time & there is only one CCP, so it won't be quick - I'm pretty sure this was by the LA rep as I recognised her accent/voice
Though that said, I've been told a few things over the phone & when they've cone up with the LGO complaint - the LA are denying it was said & that I must have misheard or was mistaken, hence why I'm losing faith in them to play fair - DH has witnessed some of it, as I had the phone on hands free, so I know I definitely heard correctly
That's a big help, as I would have had no idea what to ask for - thank you
Mmmm, well I've tried again to find out - main switchboard just refers me to admissions & yet again the admisions phone lines are closed, when they are meant to be open & still no response to my email
Googling (& I've tried various ways) keeps bringing me back to the SA booklet as regards September admissions - & that confirms it's the CCP that deals with it - though re reading that, had me panicking a bit, as not only does it say that medical need usually will only be considered with a SEN - it also says that you cannot reapply once turned down unless there has been a significant change -
There hasn't been any change per se, hence the panick, but then I remembered that our key medical letter from DDs consultant & the one that names the school, was from an appointment AFTER the initial school application closing date - it confirms her main diagnosis in more detail & confirms & lists other diagnosis that she suffers with - these are all in the remit of the original diagnosis, but listed as symptoms in the NHS & DWP literature - they lost the DWP booklet, which was the one I submitted at application stage - so where as no real change - on paper, there is & they lost the only paperwork that says otherwise, so I think we are okay [hopeful]
Also, as far as SEN being the only way you can be accepted as medical need - booklet implies this & I was told this was definitely the case when I spoke to SA - though they have denied this in writing to the LGO, stating I must have misheard, or was mistaken - not true, had my phone on speaker & DH also heard exactly what was said - but basically I have it in writing, that SEN isn't necessary.
So in theory I can argue that point & back it up - that's if ever anyone picks up the phone or replies to emails
So glad my friend warned me to expect this, think I would be a basket case by now if not, so much for "every child matters" 
Think there actually isn't anything I can do right now, frustrating as it is, just hopeful fir good news this week (please) then it won't be an issue & will bring it up with the LGO if not
In your situation I would be sorely tempted to find out which ward councillor holds the education portfolio for your unitary/borough council and ask them why the staff on their department are failing to respond to communications with a resident; in my experience they will have timescales that they are meant to work to and a telephone number being unavailable when advertised as being open is totally unacceptable too. Be really overt in your explanation of your DD's difficulties and avoid medical terms that a lay person might not understand (I struggle to understand your abbreviations but not sure whether they are MN acronyms) but mainly focus on and be very clear about how often you have tried to get in touch with the department and got no sort of response not even an acknowledgement because at the very least they should acknowledge your correspondence and give you a timescale for a response, and also how this is causing a great deal of stress to your whole family. You are not trying to fudge any situation just asking for the opportunity to ensure that your paperwork has been received and perhaps gain clarification about the process you wish to undertake. I wish you and your DD the very best of luck... cases like this make me so cross
Thank you Kurlique
I've no idea why I've not thought of trying our ward councillors before - we did originally ask for MPs help on the advice of a friend who had the same problem with regards her original application form being wrongly assessed a couple of years ago, but he was useless & I'm sure part of the reason we are having more problems now, as he pretty much just forward my email back to school admissions -
spent last night on the internet & now have contact details for them all & surgery details, one if which could be huge help for another noisy pub neighbour problem that we have, as they are also on the licensing team :)
That said, I did manage to finally get through to SA very early this morning - though the main people refused to come to the phone they did pass on that all the correct paperwork is now with the CCP & that they have no idea on timescale.
I took admissions advice & then asked for a copy of any procedure around medical/social decisions to be sent to me & was told that they don't know what they are & that I would have to look on the government website
how can they not know this stuff!!
Though this phone call has now resulted in a reply to an email sent a couple if days ago, confirming that the correct paperwork was passed on when it was received (few weeks ago) & that they don't know a time scale - also saying that their phone lines have had technical problems for a few weeks
We have now had an update to our LGO complaint too - this looks promising (I hope 
) as it says they've made a preliminary decision & are contacting our LA to allow them to comment, before passing that in to me - I'm hoping that means they've upheld our complaint, as surely it would me they would have contacted me first otherwise - but another couple of weeks to wait I guess, as that's the time they've given the LA to reply at latest & so far our LA are stringing everything out as much as they can, so I would be shocked to hear any sooner :(
Apologies, I somehow missed these replies earlier - this damned situation is affecting my health badly too, that & the weather means I'm dealing with a lot of migraine, so having to go offline & keep missing things :(
appeals I am so sorry you & your DS are going through this awful situation too, it's soul destroying & yes makes me feel very angry, starting to wonder what century/country we actually live in, when I can't get a local school place for a DC who genuine needs a short as possible journey etc - it's a joke - especially as we are still no further forward & our LA are deliberately taking as long as possible to reply to our LGO case officer - even though we now know the LGO is on our side & are upholding our complaint
I hope you have now won & are not still going through it - it's affecting mine & DDs health badly & I'm worried about her again :(
We don't have a school to go to celest we turned it down straight away, as it's not just the bullying - whole list of reasons why it's unsuitable - distance & a 8.20 school day start with journey means she would have to be up at 6 - with chronic fatigue as a symptom as you know - & a stuffy, stiff uncomfortable uniform with ANS related sensory & pain problems - to name a few.
& after what she went through with her old primary & bullying - depressed & suicidal at 11 yrs old :( & we had that when she was younger too - tigers just no way I would risk it - she counselled her older friend through bullying at this school earlier this year, relentless racial bullying & nothing done, so DDs anxiety over going there is HUGE, I just can't risk it :(
You are very lucky one of your panel was familiar with HMS - ours clearly weren't - either that, or it's direct disability discrimination & they are excluding her because she is vulnerable to injury - which is ironic, as it's now very clear it was her old, rough, poorly managed behaviour/bullying school that caused her non stop injuries - she's had one very minor one since leaving her old primary & that was her own fault & healed in a short time
Now looking like it's likely going to be a second appeal - IF our LA don't refuse that - which the way things have gone to date - it would not surprise me at all
Still no news on a medical need waiting list place, the LA are definitely stalling that too
I've held off contacting our local councillors etc, as our MP followed up with a courtesy call & agreed when I said I felt his trying to help had ruffled feathers & made things worse - apparently they have no power to force anything, just talk & put pressure on - which annoys our LA
Seriously considering contacting the press now, but going to give it a few days - LGO STILL haven't had a response from our LA - a week late & they aren't responding to bring chased up
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