LITTLE Neave Elsy is down in the dumps - after being refused a place at a school just 500 yards from her home.

The four-year-old will now go to a school three miles away.

And instead of walking she'll be driven.

Neave's mum, Rachel, 36, attacked Kirklees Council education bosses over their decision.

She spoke out after being told Neave could not go to Upperthong Junior and Infant School, just a short stroll from their family home on Holme View Drive in the village.

Little Neave has instead been told she will have to travel to Holmfirth Junior and Infants - three miles away.

But she is not alone in having to leave her childhood friends. Fourteen other youngsters have been told they can't go to their local school and will have to be taught elsewhere.

IT manager Rachel, 36, said 10 families in the Upperthong J&I catchment area were refused places.

She added: "Six of us appealed against the decision. None of us were successful.

"The whole notion of people being given choice about where their children go to school is false.

"I didn't know that children are no longer guaranteed a place in their local school."

Rachel and husband Jeremy now face having to drive their daughter to school.

Rachel said: "We wanted to walk her to school. There is so much talk about the Government and council wanting to promote health and wellbeing.

"We can't walk her along the back roads with no pavements, which is the way to the school from our house. It's just not safe.

"She is going to have to leave her friends. It will be so daunting for her. The whole situation is just ridiculous."

But the problem could get worse for Rachel.

She believes that because her daughter didn't get to go to her local school her 15-month old baby, Scott, will have even less chance of going there.

She added: "I'm left with a reality that in just a couple of years I could have two young children at two different schools which are miles away - despite living less than 500 yards from one.

"The children are just pawns in the council's game. They are more worried about balance sheets than children.

"The council underspent by £2.1m on education last year.

"The cost of a new class at the school for seven years would be a total of £200,000. The figures speak for themselves.

"This situation is only going to get worse for parents and we need to get together with our councillors and lobby Kirklees. We need to say enough is enough."

No-one was available to comment at Kirklees Council.