Schools Preference Advice

1.  School Preference Advisers are available to offer independent support and information to families engaged in the admissions appeals process.

School Preference Advisers may:

• Assist parents in identifying and accessing information about schools.
• Discuss with parents the admissions appeals processes.
• Signpost parents to other services as appropriate e.g. Advisory Centre for Education - ACE

School Preference Advisers will provide this service by phone, email or face to face as appropriate.

2. Statutory and Voluntary Agencies may refer families encountering difficulties engaging with the admissions appeals process to the School Preference Advice Service for support.

3. School Preference Advisers may attend admissions appeals hearings in exceptional circumstances such as where parents/carers:

• Experience problems with their own reading and writing
• Are homeless
• Are affected by the recent bereavement of a close family member
• Are disabled or have medical or mental health problems
• Have been referred to the School Preference Advice Service by a Statutory or Voluntary Agency

And would, as a result of the exceptional circumstance, experience significant difficulty in engaging with the admissions appeals process, without support from the School Preference Advice Service.