Admissions

Function/Aim:

This is a maintained day special school for children aged 11-16 years. Children will be provided with an aspirational curriculum which is appropriately paced and adapted to meet pupil needs. The school is accessible for wheelchair users and is on one level. 

Size and staffing:

The LA is the admissions authority. The school currently has places for 160 pupils. Occasionally the school may be required to take additional pupils. 

Staffing levels are enhanced so that pupils are taught in classes of up to 16 with a teacher and at least one teaching assistant. We deliver a number of therapies and interventions which are guided by external professionals including Nursing Teams, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and BeeU. 

Funding:

The school is funded on a place led basis by the LA.  

Criteria for placement:

All pupils will be under assessment or have an Educational Health Care Plan. 

The pupil’s needs will be complex and significant in at least two areas as described in the EHCP. The primary area need will be cognition and learning with moderate learning difficulties, with many pupils having needs within communication and interaction and sensory or physical. A small number of pupils may have associated social, emotional and mental health difficulties, however this cannot be their primary area of need. 

Referral routes

Pupils may be considered for placements: 

  • Following a Statutory Assessment 
  • Following an Annual Review or EHCP review 
  • On arrival into the LA having previously attended a specialist provision or special school 
  • Following a parental request 
  • In exceptional circumstances e.g. sudden trauma, permanent exclusion 
  • Following a request from another LA 

Evidence to support the need for a special school place

Despite high levels of support in a mainstream setting there is evidence that the pupil has made only limited progress. Also, social naivety and/or vulnerability may be a barrier to their successful inclusion in a mainstream setting. 

There will be multi-agency agreement that a special school placement is appropriate which will include an educational psychologist’s opinion. 

The views of the parent and the child will also be considered. 

Prioritising placements

If there are more children who meet the criteria than available places the following priorities apply; 

  • The child doesn’t have a current school place 
  • The child is LAC and there is evidence that the placement will be appropriate to meet their needs 

Admission procedures

Once the LA has decided that the referral is appropriate the head teacher will be consulted at either a termly meeting with education officers or by the sending of individual papers. Following the meeting or receipt of papers, the head teacher will have 15 working days to consider the admission. When the admission(s) is agreed the LA will formalise this by notifying parents and the child’s current school so that admission arrangements can be made. 

Transport

Through on-going planning and review, opportunities for inclusion in other settings will be considered. The school will facilitate inclusion opportunities into mainstream schools. Depending on the needs of the child this may be in either a school local to the child’s home or local to Southall. 

If it is envisaged that the inclusion may lead to transfer to a mainstream school an LA officer must be consulted prior to any arrangements being made. 

Inclusion opportunities

Through on going planning and review, opportunities for inclusion in other settings will be considered. The school will facilitate inclusion opportunities into mainstream schools. Depending on the needs of the child this may be in either a school local to the child’s home or local to Southall.

If it is envisaged that the inclusion may lead to transfer to a mainstream school an LA officer must be consulted prior to any arrangements being made.

Monitoring & Review

Every child’s progress will be reviewed at least termly and an Annual Review, EHCP review or EHCP transfer review meeting will be held within 12 months of the current EHCP being issued or the previous review meeting. The child and their parents/carers will be involved in all reviews. 

These admission arrangements will be reviewed as necessary, via the termly meetings between the head teacher and education officers. 

For more information on admissions please contact Telford & Wrekin Council 

http://www.telford.gov.uk/admissions