A MOTHER may have to give up fostering in order to escort her daughter on a 50-minute trip to a school she never wanted to go to.

The prospect of Wendy Jackson having to accompany 11-year-old Lucy across town to Hayward School means she will have no time to look after children in her care.

Lucy, of Broadway, Farnworth, was devastated after missing out on a place at the oversubscribed local Harper Green school. Mrs Jackson appealed against the decision but was unsuccessful.

Lucy, the only girl from Highfield Primary School to have been allocated a place at the Hayward School, has only recently turned 11 and her mother does not want her to cross Bolton alone on two buses.

Mrs Jackson had hoped she could continue providing foster care for children under the age of two as well as respite care for disabled children.

But she said it would be impossible if she had to leave her home at 7.30am to make sure Lucy gets to school safely.

Mrs Jackson also has a seven-year-old daughter, Katey, at Highfield Primary and had hoped that Lucy would be able to walk her sister to school and collect her on the way to Harper Green which is only minutes from their home.

Lucy is so determined to still get a place at the Farnworth school that her mother will now keep her off school for the first few weeks of term in the hope that a place will be found for her.

She said: "I'm prepared to phone up every single day to see if any families have moved from the area or who have changed their minds about school choice.

"I haven't got anything against Hayward but it's too far away and will probably mean I have to give up fostering, which I love."

Deputy Director of Education in Bolton, Brian Shaw, said: "There is still a waiting list of about 12 children wanting to go to Harper Green.

"There are 30 appeals for both primary and secondary schools to be held over the summer and there is always some movement and flexibility.

"But by September the figures should be accurate. The school only has so much capacity and letting in even more pupils would make it impossible for some classes to go ahead."