Local Authority Arrangements
The admission of pupils with Statements of SEN / EHCPs to special schools is a decision for the local authority (LA) who has statutory responsibility for arranging their provision. There are admissions criteria for each special school that are applied in order to determine if a particular special school would be a suitable placement. The admissions criteria for Kent special schools can be found by clicking this link. Please note that the relevant admissions criteria related to Ifield School can be found under, “Admissions Criteria to a Special School for Pupils with Cognition and Learning Difficulties Resulting from Profound, Severe and Complex Needs”.
These include;
- Education Health Care Plan
- The wishes of the parent
- The nature of the child’s needs and previous educational experiences (if applicable)
- Pupils whose learning difficulties cannot be met in a mainstream school
- Recommendations of the referring body
- The suitability of Ifield School for the pupil
Admissions are made through referral by the Kent Local Authority with the agreement of the school governors.
We will assess pupils who are referred in their existing schools before they are offered a place to ensure that we can meet their needs and that the placement is appropriate. We visit pre-school pupils at home so that discussions are held within a familiar and more relaxed environment. Parents are given the opportunity to visit Ifield before being admitted. Sometimes a short period of induction, including a part time placement, is employed if it will be beneficial to a child’s successful transition into school. After admission, parents are invited to attend Ifield to discuss with the class teacher, how their child has settled into school. All pupils admitted to the school will have been authorised by the case worker representing the Local Authority before admission. For further information on admissions you may either contact the school 01474 365485 or the SEN Department on 03000 419345/03000 419994. Numerous agencies, for example health, social services, adoption and fostering services, may also refer a potential pupil to Ifield School. Other schools and parents may also make informal enquiries to the school and be invited to visit before any formal procedure is followed. These approaches are welcomed by the school as they help other professionals and carers to gain a clearer understanding of the types of difficulties the school caters for.
Refusal of Admission
The governors reserve the right to refuse admission in the following cases:
- Places are fully subscribed and admitting pupils over this number would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources
- The school would be unable to meet the needs of the pupil
- Admission of a pupil would compromise the Health and Safety of pupils and/or staff within the school, or would seriously compromise or disrupt the education of pupils already within the school
