A SICK mother fighting for her children to go to the same Christchurch school has been given fresh hope of a reprieve before the new term starts.

As reported previously in the Daily Echo, terminal cancer sufferer Michelle Amey and husband Stuart want son George, six, to join nine-year-old brother Charlie at Mudeford Junior School.

They claim this would allow them to better support each other and ease the strain on the family.

Dorset County Council denied George, who spent the last school year at Mudeford Infants School, entry to the school, citing a lack of places.

An appeal failed but a second was granted last month after campaigning by Christchurch councillor Lesley Dedman and a date set for August 28.

After further lobbying by Cllr Dedman, the appeal date has been moved to August 18. Stuart said he hopes this would mean if the appeal is successful George will be able to start at the school in September.

Cllr Dedman said: “The council officers have been very good in trying to get a panel together. I am very hopeful that there is enough evidence to prove that George has exceptional circumstances.”

However, she warned the result of the appeal was not yet a “done deal” and that Stuart has been working hard to prepare for the hearing.

She said she hoped the independent panel would take into consideration the Equalities Act 2010, which aims to stop people defined as disabled from being disadvantaged.

Michelle was diagnosed with skin cancer seven years ago, but the disease has now spread to her brain, kidneys, lungs, liver and lymph nodes.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: “I can confirm the Amey family have been offered an earlier date for their second appeal hearing with the independent panel, to help accommodate family health issues and availability within our existing appeals panel arrangements.”