A NURSE at the Great Western Hospital could be forced to give up her job after Swindon Council tried to send her daughter to a school on the other side of town.

Melanie Hardy, 32, moved to St Andrew's Ridge with her two children Rebecca, five and Charlotte, three and partner Kim Smith, 42.

She hoped to send her children to Greenmeadow Primary in Pen Close, Haydon Wick but was told by Swindon Council that while Charlotte could go to Greenmeadow Primary the school was full in Rebecca's year.

Her older daughter was offered a place at Covingham Park Infant School, which is five miles from her home and on the other side of town.

Now Ms Hardy may be forced to give up her job in the hospital's Acute Assessment Unit because she cannot arrange irregular childcare to take her children to and from school around her shift patterns.

Mrs Hardy said: "I cannot believe how badly this has been handled, if you move into a new area you expect to be able to send your children to good schools in that area.

"It seems like the council has not planned this properly. Rebecca has had so much upheaval in her life we just want to give her some stability."

Rebecca spent two weeks at Covingham Park Infant School in The Harriers and has now been offered a place at Catherine Wayte Primary School in Elstree Way, where she will start after half term. But younger daughter Charlotte is unable to get into Catherine Wayte with her sister and must attend Bridlewood Primary when she starts school in September. Her name is on a waiting list for a place at Catherine Wayte. Ms Hardy's partner Mr Smith is unable to take the children to school because he works for the Coyne Construction Group and commutes to Bristol early every morning.

Swindon LEA's senior admissions officer Pat Mullin said: "The LEA tries its best to ensure that children obtain the school of their parent's choice, especially if it is the child's catchment school.

Ms Hardy was refused a place for Rebecca in Year 1 at Greenmeadow Primary School because the school is full up to the admission limit in that year. Greenmeadow is not Rebecca's catchment school.

"The LEA has to abide by the Code of Practice in admission cases although it is the parent's right to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. Ms Hardy exercised this right, and the Appeal Panel upheld the LEA decision to refuse Rebecca a school place at Greenmeadow Primary School."

North Swindon MP Michael Wills has written a letter to the LEA in support of the parents' wishes.