By law, statutory school age is 5-16 and legally the Local Authority must provide full time education to children from the beginning of the term following their 5th birthday. It is also the responsibility of the parent/carer to ensure that the child or young person is accessing a suitable education. 

Deciding which place of learning a child/young person attends is an important decision for any parent. If the child/young person has special educational needs (SEN), there are extra things that may need to be thought about.

Where can I find out about places of learning?

Parents looking for information about places of learning in Norfolk can find everything they need through these links:

 

·         Norfolk Schools and Learning Providers - Schoolfinder

·         Specialist Resource Bases (SRBs) - What is a Specialist Resource Base? - Norfolk County Council

·         State funded special schools - Norfolk County Council

·         Help you Choose (Post 16)

·         SEND (Special educational needs and disabilities) - Education | Norfolk Community Directory (lists independent special schools)

 

 

Where can I find out information around the admissions process?

Without an EHCP:

·         Visit the local authority website here - School admissions - Norfolk County Council It explains admission processes – including in year transfers, and appealing school placement decisions.

With an EHCP

  • Children and young people with an EHCP do not follow the usual school admissions process. 
  • Parent/Carers and Young people have a legal right to request a school, college or other setting to be named in the EHCP. 
  • The local authority (LA) must consult with the chosen setting and decide whether to name it in the EHCP.

Parent/Carers and young people can express a preference for: 

  • a maintained school (mainstream or special) 
  • a maintained nursery school 
  • an academy or free school 
  • a further education college or sixth form 
  • a non-maintained special school 
  • an independent school or college that is on the government’s Section 41 approved list. 

When can a school or college be requested by a parent/carer or young person? 

  • when the EHCP is being written for the first time 
  • when the EHCP is being changed after an annual review
  • at any other time the EHCP is being amended (for example, if your child is moving to a new setting).

Can I arrange a visit?

Once there is a list of possible places of learning, the parent/carer or young person should contact them to make an appointment. Many schools hold open evenings for parents and some hold open days for families. Here are some things for parent/carers or young people to ask:

  •  Ask who you will meet at the place of learning and how much time they will be able to spend with you.
  • Think carefully about whether you want to take your child with you on the first visit (you could discuss this with the place of learning)
  • Decide if you want to take someone along with you. This may be a friend or relative. They can help in discussing your impressions afterwards
  • Consider whether you would like to have a guided tour. You will get a better feel for the place of learning if you do this in their open hours when the children/young people are there – however this isn’t always offered.
  • It can be beneficial to speak to the schools Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) about your child and their needs and what support they offer.

What should the parent/carer or young person find out before their visit?

It may be a good idea to find the following information out before visiting. This should all be available on the place of learnings website, however if it is not, it can be requested from the office.

  • Prospectus or brochure
  • Special Educational Needs (SEN) Policy and SEN Information Report
  • Policies, such as Behaviour or Safeguarding
  • The OFSTED Inspectors report, this is also available on the OFSTED website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

Reading through this information will give the parent/carer or young person an idea of what the place of learning is like and identify any questions they may have. Different things are important to different parents, they know their child and what is likely to suit them best. 

 

 

Top tips for starting a new place of learning for parent/carers and young people

  • You can contact the SENCO/SEN lead at the new place of learning before your child or young person starts, to discuss their needs and to explore and agree a plan of support. There may be opportunities for a joint (virtual) meeting involving the current and new SENCO.
  • Find out names and roles of key staff you can contact at the new setting.
  • Let the new place of learning know about any signs to look out for that your child/young person is anxious, and the best way to communicate with them. 
  • It may be helpful to ask if you can arrange a visit at a quiet time so they can familiarise themselves with the place of learnings surroundings.
  • Enquire about any opportunities to meet with their teacher/tutor in advance (this can work just as well virtually)
  • A scrapbook, photo journal or social story around changing places od learning can be very reassuring. This can include leaflets, maps, times of the school day, timetable if available, a checklist and also photos of entrance, classrooms, lunch hall and key staff/’who to go to when…’