Nursery children going to a Glasgow school will no longer be split up from their siblings after new places were found at the primary.
Glasgow City Council has been able to offer four spaces to children at Wallacewell Primary who were previously told they would have to go to a different school - and be separated from brothers or sisters.
The spaces arose as a number of other kids destined for Wallacewell Primary in Robroyston are now going elsewhere.
READ MORE: Glasgow primary school splits up brothers and sisters as it is too full
It means the children living in the catchment can now look forward to starting their first day at school knowing their older siblings will be there too.
The local democracy reporting service reported earlier this week how a girl with special needs was told to go to Balornock Primary despite her big brother being at Wallacewell. A boy was also to be sent to that primary instead of Wallacewell where his two older brothers currently attend.
It's upcoming P1 is completely full for the year ahead. Last week figures showed there were 13 children on the catchment waiting list for Wallacewell.
A council spokeswoman said: “All catchment children with siblings at the school have been offered places that have now become available.
“This is because families have accepted a placing request to other schools and the spaces become available to those on the waiting list.
“This is often the case at this time of year when there is so much movement across the city and neighbouring local authorities.”
Springburn and Robroyston councillors Audrey Dempsey and Thomas Rannachan had been in touch with parents struggling to get places.
Describing some kids getting spaces as “fabulous” news, Councillor Dempsey, Labour, said: “I don’t think four places is enough but I’m delighted things are moving in the right direction.”
The politicians have called for a more personalised approach to children’s circumstances when the local authority considers placing requests.
Councillor Dempsey has hit out at the wording of placement request refusal letters describing the language as a disgrace and said responses are not tailored to an individual child. She said the communication is led by the Scottish Government.
Councillor Rannachan, Labour, said: “The centralised approach is flawed when those with local knowledge can make accommodation.”
The council said responses to families must follow the legal requirements set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 28A.
When a school has more placing request applications than places available, criteria are applied when deciding who gets accepted.
Top of the criteria ranking is when a child living in the city council area has additional support needs and needs the “support provided only within the school requested.”]
Number 2 , which relates to denominational schools only, is when parents can demonstrate an affinity with the religious ethos of the school.
Next on the list is when children have siblings at the school during the next academic year.
Fourth on the ranking priority list is children who “face on-going family circumstances, requiring support that only placement in the requested school is likely to address.”
READ NEXT
Glasgow plans lodged to install 20p bottle return machines in four streets
Historic Glasgow school to be demolished to protect 'public safety'
New Glasgow bin hubs to be monitored by CCTV as Pollokshields residents prepare for launch
Private flat in Glasgow now £600-a-month more expensive than social housing
