Admissions
All students who enter The Mark Way School will be directed by the SEN Service.
However, referral can be initiated by various professional agencies and/or parental request and may be considered by the Governing Body
MAIN CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION
The main criterion for admission is that students have learning difficulties in the moderate or in some cases severe range. In addition to this students may have any of the following special educational needs:
1. Gross and fine motor impairment or delay.
2. Hearing impairment.
3. Visual impairment.
4. Perceptual problems and spatial awareness difficulties.
5. Autistic spectrum disorders.
6. Medical conditions requiring specific support.
7. Emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.
8. High dependencies upon adult support as a result of complex multiple disabilities or other condition.
SPECIAL CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION
In certain circumstances admission may also be sought for children with difficulties beyond those listed above. Within this category the special educational needs are:
1. Profound sensory impairment.
2. Life-threatening conditions which require constant monitoring and possible immediate medical intervention.
3. High-risk conditions requiring that children need constant supervision e.g. severe epilepsy.
4. Severe and challenging behaviour which poses a threat to the safety of the child and other children, some of whom may be immobile and physically frail.
5. Severe and complex multiple disability or disorder.
6. Learning difficulties that that are outside the moderate range.
Requests for admission under these special criteria may need to be considered by the Governing Body if it is felt that the school is not the best placement to meet the child’s needs. In this event considerations will include:
ADMISSION/ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
On receiving a referral for admission from the SEN Service, the school will contact the parents/guardians to invite them to visit the school with the child (although in the majority of cases the parents will have visited the school in order to decide if they want Mark Way School for their child). The school aims for this to be a relaxed visit in order for both parties to gather information. The format for the visit by the parent/ family and child will be as follows:
1. The Headteacher or her representative will conduct the tour
2. The pupil and family will be introduced to key health professionals (i.e. Physiotherapist) if appropriate.
Parents are encouraged to take time and seek further information in order to make the decision as to whether they request a school place.
Some children will be admitted to school for a finite period of assessment or trial integration, for some children assessment will be on-going and reviewed annually.
If, through the assessment, it is found that a child’s special educational needs would be best met in a different educational setting, an alternative placement will be sought in consultation with parents/guardians and the Local Education Authority.