Letters of support

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Mumtutu
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2018 2:49 am

Letters of support

Post by Mumtutu »

Hello there,

We are putting together the appeal evidence for our DD and met with our primary HT today. DD suffers with low self esteem/lack of confidence is evident by all who know her really- we have not had her formally assessed. Most people just think of her as painfully shy!

Over the past 4 years, these issues have ever so slowly improved and much of this has been because at her current school she has been progressing with LAMDA exams and classical singing. For the first time this year she has performed an acting solo and sang at the school concert - something we would never have imagined a year ago. She still has some way to go before she would ever be the sort of child who could ever be considered confident but the HT thought that it was important she be able to continue not only with these skills but as her teachers in these areas have been so important in gaining her trust and working with her that she should continue with these teachers. DD is very shy of people she does not know. HT also willing to support because he believes DD to be extremely competent academically but her lack of self confidence holds her back.

If she attends the school offered because of the distance and poor transport (one bus a day) she will not be able to continue these pursuits and not with these teachers. She will not get back from school until quite late. Both of these teachers are near to her preferred school and she could go straight from school and both teachers have offered letters of support as to why these are important to DD’s personal social development.

My concern is that whilst chosen school would certainly give her a platform to develop in these areas too this is less about the school itself and more about not being able to continue if she is not in and cannot get back to the area in time to attend sessions. If she attends chosen school she will have plenty of time to continue and still have time in the evening for homework etc. Would the panel just disregard these as not being specific enough for first choice school.


Does anyone have a view?
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Letters of support

Post by Etienne »

Welcome to Appeals! :)
Would the panel just disregard these as not being specific enough for first choice school.
Not necessarily. We've come across strong cases where the child was very, very seriously ill, and the only reason for the preferred school was its location near the hospital.

Your case may not be as compelling, but it depends what view the panel take of your daughter's needs.
I think the evidence that her low self esteem is serious would need to be as strong as possible.
Etienne
Mumtutu
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2018 2:49 am

Re: Letters of support

Post by Mumtutu »

Thank your Etienne.
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