Meeting with MP

It sounds as if you have a plan, gilly, with a supporter and your notes you will feel so much more confident. As so many others have said, your M.P.'s job is to represent her constituents. We had much help from an M.P. at our last home in a challenge to a proposal to site a mobile mast very close to homes. He was extremely helpful, never once mentioned politics or indeed his personal views. It will be fine! Keep telling yourself you can do it. You will feel so proud of yourself afterwards. Good luck. .

gillybob it is irrelevant whether you voted for her or not, as your Constituancy MP she is there to represent all her Constituants. I have know some very good MPs who represented any-one who needed their help without question. Please go to your meeting it is important as she has recognised you are in need of her assistance. As others have said take notes, copies of correspondence & tell her at the start of the meeting of your health problems & difficulties with words, she will be understanding I'm sure, Good Luck

Just as Ana says the way you voted is irrelevant.

Zorro21, how does your post relate to the OP's worries about seeing her MP?

That's a silly thing to say, Lilyflower. She's been elected to represent all her constituents, whatever party they voted for.

And of course there's always the chance she'll change some voters' minds if she does a good job.

I don't know if there is anything helpful in this article:
childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/school-admissions/

If the Labour M.P. thinks you are a 'Tory' you're toast.

gillybob, your MP was elected to serve every constituent, regardless of political affiliation. The fact that she has asked you to see her speaks for her interest in your GCs' predicament. A Labour MP isn't bound by any obligation to the local Labour Council. Good Luck.

You don't have to go alone to see your MP, is there another grandparent who feels like you about the system? (I am sure there must be). If you asked them I am sure they would go with you. I have been to see my MP several times now, they are working for you so don't feel nervous about speaking to them. Perhaps write down what you want to say so you can refer to it if you get panicked at all. Above all don't worry about it affecting your grandchild, you are entitled to speak up and question the process - and, with the possibility of a General Election looming ever closer your MP will be wanting to show they listen to their voters.

People complain about the refugees not being welcomed in this country, but when it comes to education, they will be regarded as "looked after children" by LEAs and therefore above most Brits's children in priority for entry into our schools - then they will be complaining when their kids are refused entry, because they will have been tossed to the bottom of the pile.

I think you should still see your M.P. because she might have some ideas which can help you, but I think you have to accept that because of the high levels of immigration there simply are too many competing for places that just aren't there.

There has to legally be a certain class size number to fit into the school. You would have to have a particularly compelling case to alter things. All the LEA has to do is allocate you to a school, which may not be the one you actually want. Perhaps you could seek help with transport issues - ie getting LEA to pay for transport if the school is far away and you have financial problems.

There is no need to feel intimidated OP - remember she wants your vote.

gillybob some great advice on making notes taking someone with you etc. As far as the issue with the authority being Labour as well as your MP don't take that as necessarily a negative. Your MP is in a position of strength, will know the right people, but will want things to improve. You don't need to present your case brilliantly just make clear the distress this has caused your whole family and that you want others to be saved from such an awful experience. Your MP may be just as dissatisfied to hear of the awful things that happened as you are. Just remember MPs are only people who happen to work in the House of Commons. Good Luck!

There ought to have been two stars between each A but that didn't happen.

A**a

Not to worry Gilly I'm often mistaken for Ana. It was much worse when there was a poster called Aa who doesn't seem to post any more. I got a right bollocking from AnnieB who had mistaken her for me as she had a habit of pointing out errors in spelling and I think she wasn't the only one who got us muddled!!!

I have to add that I had a lovely apologetic post from AnnieB when she realised her mistake. I respect anyone who has the guts to say they got it wrong and apologises.

An MP doesn't always side with the Council even though they're supported by the same party. This is an issue that's affecting local children and needs to be challenged. That's her job.

She certainly won't ask if you voted for her as it is a complete irrelevance. She is there to represent all of her constituents.

I really don't think party politics comes into it and I have some belief that the vast majority of MPs - of whatever party - would take their constituents' concerns seriously and treat them fairly.

It's good that she wants to meet with you - I hope it is of some use.

Ooop sorry Anya I lost your "Y"

That might be a bit tricky when it is the MP I am meeting Ana. Well at least she can't blame "the other side" as we have had a Labour council here since forever.

Best keep politics out of it!!

In addition to all the good advice above can I suggest that you DO take someone with you who will be able to write things down to enable you to remember what was said later.

gillybob
Go and meet her, she's paid to take an interest in anything which affects her constituents. She won't ask whether you voted for her, so get that worry out of your mind!
Your DGD won't be put on any sort of 'list', in fact the very opposite is more likely, it does the 'powers that be' good to know that someone is out there willing to fight for what's right!
Make yourself a list of things you really want to say, just short notes will do, but if it would make you feel better, write the whole thing down and read it to her. Explain that you want to make sure you don't miss out any salient points.
And, more than anything, don't feel intimidated, she's doing a job, just the same as you, apart from the fact that she's paid by you!

I hope she doesn't ask me whether I voted for her because I didn't. Not because I don't support her Labour values, because I very much do, just because our town needs a bloody big kick up the pants and the council is so complacent and...........

Very wise words from everyone. Thank you all so very much. I knew I could rely on you all for good, sensible advice..... onwards and upwards !

Yes, do go and meet her and, if possible, take a supporter with you.

And be prepared with points to bring up as other posters said, make sure of the facts, tell them what you felt was wrong with the appeals procedure itself and how it makes parents/grandparents feel, reduces the child to a statistic, without getting too upset about it.

Coming from similar experiences too methinks

oops..Anya and I coming from the same place.. crossed posts!