Admissions
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Before a young person is admitted to Old Windebrowe School, we take time to carefully consider whether our provision is the right fit for them. Our priority is always to ensure that the placement meets the young person’s individual needs, taking into account their age, previous educational experiences, and their level of understanding and development.
Old Windebrowe School is able to welcome children and young people aged 5 to 18 years. Pupils will have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), an Individual Development Plan (IDP), or be in the process of assessment. Children’s primary needs typically include learning disabilities, such as autistic spectrum conditions, moderate to severe learning difficulties, and associated needs.
At the point of referral, we ask for as much information as possible so that we can fully understand the young person and assess how well our provision can support them. This includes personal details, health information, and educational history. This information helps the Directors and Head Teacher determine whether Old Windebrowe School can meet the young person’s needs effectively.
As part of this process, we also consider whether we have the appropriate staffing in place to support the young person. Any support strategies or interventions used at Old Windebrowe School, including our approach to physical intervention, will be clearly explained to the placing authority, the young person, and their parents or carers.
A start date is usually agreed within the following five days; however, we always give thoughtful consideration to whether the young person feels ready to begin their school journey with us.
Our Admission procedure:
- School is notified of a new referral and receives paperwork.
- Where appropriate visits to settings may be carried out to help support the paperwork to make sure, we can meet need.
- In the case of a day student agreement around appropriate support in school, use of physical intervention and procedures for writing up notifiable incidents is obtained.
- Student takes up residence within the company, or in the case of a day student, LEA/school confirms placement.
- Consent, information and contact forms issued to person holding parental responsibility.
- Within one school week – discuss with house manager/parent appropriate timeline for introducing the individual to school, including whether this needs to be on a full or integration timetable.
- Carry out induction meeting with student and/or parent/carer.
- Arrange some taster sessions to introduce the student to teachers and establish working relationships.
- Complete appropriate assessments for the individual student to receive appropriate and needs led teaching.
- Ensure all relevant paperwork is in place and shared with the class teams – Individual Management Plan (IMP), Risk Assessments (RA) and Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
- DSL requests secure transfer of child protection and safeguarding records from previous education placement within 5 days of the placement commencing, in line with ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.