A MOTHER whose son has never been to school has been given a last chance to sign him up for class ' or face prosecution.
Kelly Thomason, aged 24, of Bernard Street, Syke, refused to send her five-year-old son, Hunter, to school after she was told he could not go to the primary of her choice because it was full.
After issuing a first threat of legal action last month, education bosses have now advised her to register Hunter before 31 May because it is her legal duty to ensure her son receives education.
But Ms Thomason says she will not back down and has reaffirmed her claim she would rather go to prison.
Hunter was denied a place at Shawclough Primary School ' 500 yards from their home ' because there was no room.
He was offered a place at Spotland Primary School, but Ms Thomason rejected that because another son, Cain, starts at Shawclough soon and she says she could not drop the two boys at different schools every day.
Sending both boys to Spotland Primary would also be impossible, as it does not have a nursery.
Ms Thomason admits Hunter can barely write his own name.
Rochdale Council's Ann Tipton, who issued an ultimatum on Monday, said: 'Mrs Thomason has been offered a place at an alternative school for her son, which is still available.
'We have advised her that she needs to register with the school in the next 15 days and that she has a legal duty to ensure her son receives education.
'We are continuing to work with her to ensure that her son takes up a place at school.
'However, there is still no place at Shawclough Primary School.
'We understand she wants her son to go to school and we hope we will be able to resolve this without having to take action against her.'
Ms Thomason said: 'If they want to take action it is their tough luck, but I am not budging. I will go to court if I have to and I will go to prison, too.
'The funny thing is that everyone at the council who I have spoken to agrees with me that Hunter should have a place and they have blamed the rules. If that is the case, I think the rules should be changed.
'We live across the road from Shawclough and Hunter should have a place. There is no way he is going anywhere else.'
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if there is no room at the school then send him somewhere else.....surely her suns education means more to her...
put her in jail foster the dummys out
put her in jail foster the dummys out
I agree with the mother in this situation because I myself have had the same problem. I don't blame her for sticking by her guns I wish I would of had the bottle to do the same thing. How can she be in 2 places at once. She is very determined in this case and wish her all the luck. Threatening her with jail is not going to help the situation and if the education are that keen to get this little boy in school well they should come to some arrangement.
Can understand her wanting her son to go to Shawclough rather than Spotland for the quality of the education. But to get better education you'd have to move out of Rochdale.
I would be interested to see when she tried to register her son at Shawclough.
This is what happens when parents procrastinate with their child's education and make the assumption that they will be able to click their fingers and the child will get a place.
Why doesn't she try to send both children to Spotland.
How silly can some people be? i am on the school addmissions panel and beleive me shae has gone about this the wrong way. we dont always get the school we want and how do other mothers cope when they have children in different schools shae aint the first mother to have children in different schools and i can assure you shae wont be the last.
She seems more concerned with getting her own way than getting her son educated. She'd rather to go to prison than put her child first. Does she think this makes her a good mother?Why is she not teaching him herself at home while waiting for the situation to be resolved?
This is from someone who had 4 children in 4 different schools one year and who didn't get the schools of her choice.
this parent should have signed him up when he was a baby then she would,nt have this problem
Right, I have just read the comments made on the above article and have got a few questions. The first one goes to:
sharon margaret kilday, Oldham
So, Sharon, You are on the school's panel? Well, then, you should be more understanding and know that instead of insulting somebody, you should take an interest in the problem. Why is she silly? Is somebody silly because they fight for their RIGHTS? Now, that might give you something to THINK about, because from what I can gather, it does not say much for you and I ask myself how you managed to get on to the panel??? *Oops, sorry, was that an insult to you?*
Kelly has EVERY RIGHT to a place at this school for her son. I don't know Kelly, but I sure know a damn site more about school admission panels. They are NOT always right you know. Let's just hope that you rethink what you said. You really should know better. I have had my experiences with the school admission as well, and the more a mother fights for her Rights, the less understanding she gets. Let's change this, should we???
This Probelm should also be a turning point for you on the panel and the others. Open your eyes and look towards the Problem, not AWAY!!! from it!!!
As for the others who have written, to you I would like to say:
This is NOT about a mother being silly, clicking with their fingers and getting a place is what she thinks, this is about a serious Problem which everybody tries to wiggle out of. The boy IS entitled to a place at this school as he lives there. If that is how the authorities think, why not let him go to school???
The authorities must be joking when they say that there is *NO* room for one more boy? If this wasn't so serious, you could laugh about it.
Now to you:
Jean Morton, from manchester
You are one of many people out there who do not give a damn what happens and are not interested in this matter.
*put her in jail foster the dummys out * you said, well, let's start with you, should we???
There are different ways of making one's point to the matter, but to insult somebody, shows how weak you are!!!
As for Kelly:
STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND YOUR SON A GOOD EDUCATION!!!
To Jane in Manchester - Sun's education???? Where did you get yours??
Alas, this problem is widespread and not just confined to primary school age. I had to fight to get my son into a secondary school, his first choice school, 500 yards or so away from home. We were given a maximum choice of 6, but only decided to put his first choice down...It was refused. He was desperately hurt, but we didnt give up and he was offered a place on appeal. I urge Hunter`s mum to continue her fight for him to receive an education at the school nearest to her, the one they both want. Education after all is a right and not a privilege. If more children went to their local schools, there would be less traffic to fight through first thing in the morning and after 2.00 in the afternoon, when the four x fourers clog up the roads and pavements in order to pick up their offspring...After all we cant inconvenience poor little Hatty and Tristan by getting them to walk to and from school, can we??!!??
Why can't Hunter write his name? I am appalled that this boy has not been taught the basics by his parents. My daughter could write her name at the age of 2 1/2 as I prepared her for school. As for a school of your choice? My daughter did not get the school of our choice but her need for education far exceeded our need for convenience. Think of your child!
If you go to prison you will be seperated from your children. The fact that you are willing to risk that seems to indicate this issue is about ego and power and not so much about the child.
Not that you don't love your children, of course you do, i'm not suggesting that but you have lost your perspective.
Consider restoring reasonable thought to this issue.
I wish you well.