Watermill School
Admissions
Admissions
Admission to Watermill School is arranged via your Local Authority. All children who enter the main body of the school will have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or equivalent.
Admissions Policy – Watermill School
1. The admission of pupils to the school is largely controlled by the Local Authority (LA). The LA follows the procedures described in the SEN Code of Practice and may recommend placement at the school.
2. The school feels that it has a role to ensure parents are able to make informed decisions about the appropriateness of the LA’s recommendations. If the offer of a placement is accepted then the school would wish to make the transition as easy as possible for the child and his/her parents/carers.
3. The school takes the view that, as a public facility, it should be open to public scrutiny. Thus anyone who has an interest in the work of the school may request a copy of the school brochure and any other relevant material.
4. The school responds favourably to requests to visit the school. Parents /carers/families of prospective pupils are welcomed at an early point in the official assessment process when discussions regarding specialist provision may have taken place.
5. During such visits the emphasis is placed on familiarisation with the school and its methodology. It is also pointed out to parents that the school is unable to make any observation on the appropriateness of a placement, in school without consultation from the Local Authority including the relevant paperwork such as a current EHC Plan.
When parents visit, they are encouraged to bring other members of their family particularly if they take an active role in supporting the child. Parents/carers are also offered the opportunity of a visit with or without their child. In the first instance some parents/carers prefer to look around without their child so that they can ask any questions they may have without
distraction.
7. The school always recommends to parents/carers that they should visit other establishments that educate children with similar disabilities.
8. An initial visit to a school usually takes the form of a tour with other parents. This is usually pre the agreed placement and gives parents an opportunity to visit a range of schools to support parental preference.
Further visits usually comprise of a meeting with a member of teaching staff or the SENCO who escorts the parents/carers on potential classes. There is opportunity to spend more time in the class(es) that may be appropriate. Depending on the nature of the visit and at what stage the assessment is at, a further visit may be planned. This might include bringing another member of the family or the child in person.
9. The statutory school leaving age is 16. Pupils with special educational needs are entitled to receive full-time education until the age of 19. Pupils leave Watermill at the end of the summer term of their 16th year (Year 11). Transition plans and visits to potential settings can begin in Year 10. Our SENCO, Transition lead and home school link worker will support parents/carers with this transition.
10. It is emphasised that, if the LA has recommended a place and a vacancy exists, the final decision to accept or reject the place lies with the parents/carers.
11. After acceptance of a place and notification to the LA, the timing of the admission is discussed with the parents/carers. The arrangements are tailored to each family’s needs. For example, a Reception aged child may make several visits with a parent/carer until all parties feel comfortable that the child is settling. Other pupils may initially attend transition visits with their 1:1 support from their mainstream setting.
12. Parents/carers are invited to attend a transition meeting in order to complete all necessary paperwork before a placement commences. In addition to this, staff from the child’s current setting are invited to support and arrange transition dates. This is conducted with our Senco, the class teacher, home school link worker and health care/ support worker/physiotherapists, if necessary. This gives the school all vital information including medical needs where applicable. Amongst other things, school uniform, home school agreement and transport arrangements are discussed at this meeting. At this meeting transition dates are set to assist the child in adjusting to their new setting before their full-time placement commences. It is important to say that transition arrangements can be personalised and may depend on the needs/ context of the pupil/ current educational arrangements.
13. In the weeks after admission staff keep close communication with parents/carers to ensure that any problems are quickly addressed.
The department at Stoke LA who deal with EHCPs are-
Special Educational Needs Monitoring and Assessment Service (SENMAS)
Tel: (01782) 232740
Email: senmas@stoke.gov.uk
Support for Parents
SENDIASS are an independent support service for parents to help with any issues arising with the issuing of or maintaining of EHCPs.
SEND Information, Advice & Support Service (SENDIASS)
Tel: (01782) 234701 or 234847
E-mail: iass@stoke.gov.uk