A father has claimed he will be forced to quit his job if Essex County Council does not make a U-turn on his daughter’s school place.

Alexis Stephenson, four, has been allocated a space in reception at St Andrew’s School, Great Yeldham, which is a 5.4-mile round trip from their home in Swan Street, Sible Hedingham.

Her mum, Sharon Atkinson, is disabled and uses a motability scooter to drop Alexis off at nursery three days a week while dad Martin Stephenson works full time.

The couple requested St Peter’s School as it is half a mile from their home and is attached to Alexis’ current nursery, a journey her mother can make with her.

This was rejected.

They have also been refused school transport and now do not know how they are going to get her to school.

Mr Stephenson said: “It’s getting to the stage now where I may have to leave work to get my daughter to school.

“There are virtually no footpaths along there, we can’t rely on public transport and we have been refused school transport three times because we are out of the two-mile area.

“I don’t expect it for free, if they want me to pay something I will.”

The couple have attended a school board meeting with Essex County Council, phoned and filled in forms but claim they are getting no answers.

After moving from Hoddesdon three years ago for a better quality of life, the couple enrolled Alexis at nursery and had their hopes set on the adjoining school.

Mr Stephenson said: “As soon as we got settled into our new home we got her into nursery at St Peter’s. She was going there for two full days and one half day.

“The idea was to get her familiar with it as it’s linked to a mainstream school and it won’t be so much of a shock for her.

“We would prefer Alexis to go to St Peter’s, but if she has to go elsewhere then she has to go. We just want our little girl in school.”

Ray Gooding, Essex county councilor responsible for education, said: “Applications for school place are required, by law, to be considered under published admission arrangements.

“Eligibility for home to school transport is determined on the basis of the council’s education transport policy.

“Where an application has been unsuccessful, parents have the right to appeal.

“It would be inappropriate to comment any further while an appeal process is outstanding.

“Officers from the council have been in touch with the family to offer additional advice.”