Bristol girl stuck at home as no places left at school
Lottie Walker's friends from her Bristol pre-school have all started infants' school now.
She sees them every day when she goes with her mother Emma Turner to take her big brother to and from his junior school next door.
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But Lottie, who was four in July, cannot join her pals. Two mornings a week, she goes back to Hanham Methodist Pre-School with younger children and the rest of the time she is at home in Bristol with her mother.
The problem is the reception classes at Samuel White Infant School in Hanham are full and Lottie's home in Barton Hill is too far away to guarantee her a place.
Because of the pressure on primary schools in east and central Bristol, there is no room either at any school on the journey from the family's home to Hanham.
Ms Turner said: "I am at my wits' end. I don't know what to do. The few schools that have places for Lottie are in the wrong direction, so I would not be able to get her to school and her brother Jack to Hanham Abbots Junior School on time.
"It is so hard to explain to Lottie why her friends have started school and she has not. She sees them every day in their little uniforms. It breaks my heart."
Ms Turner sent Jack to Samuel White's four years ago.
The school is over the local authority border in South Gloucestershire but she said it takes only eight minutes to drive there along Crew's Hole Road.
She chose the school because of its good reputation, and because she has relatives in the area and went to school nearby herself.
"I can't help where I live. I can't afford to live in Hanham," she said.
At the time Jack started school, Lottie was eight weeks old and Ms Turner assumed she would be able to follow her brother through the Hanham schools in due course.
She said: "In previous years, brothers and sisters have got in even if they live outside the area but this year the demand for places from people living closer was higher.
"All I want is my children in the same school. It isn't too much to ask."
Ms Turner appealed against South Gloucestershire Council's decision but was turned down. She is on the waiting list at several Bristol and South Gloucestershire schools, including Air Balloon Hill Primary, Christchurch Primary and Beacon Rise.
Bristol City Council has offered a place at St Anne's Park Primary and also has places available at Oldbury Court and Hillfields primaries.
Council spokeswoman Katharine de Lisle said: "There is pressure on reception places in many parts of Bristol. Most of the schools that have places are on the periphery of the council's area.
"While there might be a place closer for Lottie, the offer of St Anne's Park was made because this was more in the right direction for the journey to Hanham."
She said Ms Turner was not legally obliged to send Lottie to school until she turned five.
South Gloucestershire Council spokesman Steve Knowlson said: "The family's first choice for a reception place at Samuel White's Community Infant School in South Gloucestershire was turned down because the school was oversubscribed and the family live further away from the school than other applicants for a place.
"An appeal was lodged but this was unsuccessful because all reception places at the school had already been filled.
"While we sympathise with the family's situation, South Gloucestershire Council does not have a statutory responsibility to provide an alternative reception place for Charlotte because she lives outside of the area of prime responsibility.
"In some circumstances, places are offered to children who live in neighbouring authorities if there are any places left, but in this case all the places had already been filled."
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by Kelly Adams, Hanham, Bristol
Monday, September 28 2009, 12:58PM
“I understand shes upset its not nice haveing your four year old at home whilst all there friends are getting on with there school education together, I should know because i am in the same situation except i have reason to be upset and worried for my child as we got declined for all three schools we submitted. 1 in mangotsfield which we chose as he went to mangotsfield pre school and we were hoping to move there and 2 in hanham between 10 and 15 mins away beacon rise and samual whites we were also put on a waiting list for christchurch but have still been left with no school for my child. We were lucky enough to get a place at beacon rise pre school in the afternoons so atleast he was still getting some envolvment with school life but its very hard to explain to him why he has to go there when other children go to big school. He is very forward for his age and finds it very boring going to pre school as he has already done it and feels theres nothing there of interest for him to do, he knows he should be learning more ande he loves to learn so doesnt like being stuck where he feels there is nothing else for him to learn. He also finds it harder to communicate with the children at pre school now as being younger they cant really hold a conversation as well as he can. I have even tryed four other schools slightly further afield but they also have no places, Just because he is still under 5 the council does nothing about it legally he has to be somewhere by may when he is 5 and if no one drops out by then im not sure what i can do about it, maybe if the council provided more help and information in these circumstances people wouldnt feel so hard done by. I just wish there was something i could do to ensure he doesnt fall behind on his education because like i said hes very bright and if at school now learning like he should i know he would go far and could really make something of his life but joining school a year later and being slightly behind he could just be as bright as the average child which isnt a bad thing but when he's as bright as he is its a shame he hasnt been given the opportunity, Thanks for reading my comment, Kelly”
by organiclocal, southville
Monday, September 21 2009, 8:53PM
“Dear doting mother, you really must walk or cycle with your children to your nearest community school, its very good for your health and best of all good for the environment. Don't be embarrassed or feel guilty about living in Barton Hill they have very good schools.
I do fear your social aspirations or league-table fever has clouded your judgement on what is best for your family and the environment.
All cars used by lazy parents on the school run should be clamped and the money raised sent to African schools where the children walk 10 miles without whinging.
The Green Reaper”
by debbie, fishponds
Monday, September 21 2009, 8:41PM
“i agree with michelle and we should be supporting our local schools”
by Michelle, Bristol
Monday, September 21 2009, 8:32PM
“I live just across the road from a primary school and the traffic around our road in the morning and afternoon is terrible. Parents have a total disregard for safety and peoples property, parking over drives, parking on the pavement. If more children went to their local school and walked rather than assuming they can pick any school even if they dont live in the council area just because they can drive there, maybe it would be one solution to the obese problem we have with young people now.”
by Spaceman, Bristol
Monday, September 21 2009, 7:16PM
“Some sort of 'teleporter' would be best surely.”
by Mike, Not Important
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:57PM
“a mum - a time travel machine wouldnt get her to 2 places at once, it would transport her to a different time.... hence "time machine" not "split my body in 2 machine"”
by emma, BRISTOL
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:41PM
“Thanks to everyone who commented on my school situation - even the down right rude and nasty ones. At the end of the day I did what I did with my story, not to make people feel sorry for me but in the hope of opening the eyes of other parents to the fact that getting your child into the school you want is not always as easy as you think!!! Perhaps those of you who were so quick to judge should just take a step back and think before you type!”
by debs, fishponds
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:39PM
“oldbury court school has a breakfast club.u can drop your kid of from 8, 0clock so she could get to both schools on time”
by a mum, bristol
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:28PM
“everyone is slating this woman for wanting to send her daughter to the same school that her brother ALREADY goes to but has anyone considered how she will physically get 2 kids to completely different schools by 8.45? perhaps someone could lend her a time travel machine so that she can be in 2 places at the same time”
by DCI Gene Hunt, Hyde, 1973
Monday, September 21 2009, 3:56PM
“If the cap fits, Brucie.
Savvy?”