Son misses out on first three choices of school
A HINCKLEY mum claims her son is missing out on essential education as well as social interaction after being denied a place at her preferred school.
Yasmin Hutchinson applied for four-year-old Riley to attend Battling Brook primary during the latest round of school place nominations.
She also listed Westfield and Richmond as alternative choices for a September start.
However she says all three schools have been denied Riley with no explanation and she’s been told to either wait until January to see if a place becomes PEACE-KEEPING pupils at an Earl Shilton school have won a Diana Award in memory of the late Princess of Wales for the second time.
Twenty-six young students at Townlands Church of England Primary Academy have been given the award for their work as peer mediators, dedicating their lunch breaks to resolving minor conflicts on the playground.
Half of them have also become anti-bullying ambassadors.
Diana Awards were launched in memory of the late Princess available at Richmond or send him to a primary in Earl Shilton in September but with no support to get him there.
Care assistant Yasmin said: “If I had applied late then perhaps I could understand it but I put in the application as soon as it was opened. It’s really frustrating and it has really upset me. I’ve been in tears.
“When Riley got turned down for Battling Brook, I appealed and it was rejected. Now I am being advised to either send him to a school three miles away or wait until January.
“I didn’t want him to start in January, he is quite shy and he will be missing out on making friends. But the main thing is he who believed that young people have the power to change the world for the better.
They are supported by the charity run by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and HRH Prince Harry.
Townlands won one for the first time in 2014, also for its peer mediator scheme.
Year 2 class teacher Louise Martinson said: “All the children have given up their lunchtimes for a year to work as peer mediators.
“They have helped children who have been lonely by finding will be missing out on education. I know it’s mostly based around play at that age but he will still have to catch up.”
The 21-year-old single mum said taking Riley to a school in Earl Shilton was not practical as she doesn’t drive and no-one else is available to provide lifts for him.
She added: “I suppose I will have to wait now, there seems no point in appealing.”
A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council said they worked hard to try and accommodate parents’ first choice of school.
They added: “The vast majority of schools prioritise applications for children in their catch- them friends and they have listened and mediated fallouts.
“Thirteen of the children have also gone the extra mile and been anti-bullying ambassadors.
“They have organised different activities each month ranging from complimentstocking to World Smile Day to teaching younger children games and songs.
“They have kept the Diana award headquarters up-todate with their activities and a blog was written and we were chosen as the school of the ment area. In terms of this case, the parent had applied for two schools out of their catchment area which were rejected, and submitted a late application to a school within their catchment area, which was also rejected. The child is now on the waiting list for all three schools - should a place become available, the parent will be automatically contacted.
“The parent has the right to appeal the decisions made. We are currently working with the family to help ensure that the child can find a suitable school place as soon as possible.”
Children are not legally required to start school until the term after their fifth birthday. month for April.
“We are extremely proud of these children.
“The Diana Award will encourage them to continue their fantastic work and will hopefully inspire others to take a stand against bullying.”
The Diana Award team aims to encourage young people to contribute to society, to empower them to reach their full potential and to engage them in social action at an early age.
Visit diana-award.org.uk to find out more.