The Parallel Learning Trust’s admission responsibilities for special schools
The Trust, as proprietor of Inspire Academy must comply with its SEN duties, these are set out in legislation and in the SEND Code of Practice.
Where a local authority has carried out a statutory assessment and decided to issue an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), it will issue a draft plan to parents. Parents can request the local authority to name their preferred choice of school in their child’s EHCP. However, the final decision on the school to be named rests with the local authority responsible for maintaining the plan.
Special schools and academies must comply when named in a child’s Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), even if the child’s special need is not a type of SEN for which the school is designated. This is a requirement of section 43 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
In order for us to be named on your child’s EHC plan, Medway education authority must consult with us first. This means that they will serve a copy of the proposed plan to us so we have an opportunity to contribute to the process.
If we believe it is not appropriate for our school to be named on your child’s EHC plan, we can seek to argue against being named for the following reasons:
- the school is not suitable for the child’s age, ability and aptitude and the special educational needs set out in the EHCP
- the child’s attendance is not compatible with the efficient education of other children in the school, and
- the placement is not an efficient use of the school’s resources.
However, irrespective of our viewpoint while being consulted, the final decision of whether to name the school rests with Medway. The school cannot apply any other criteria to tie break between children named to the school and admit one child but refuse another. We cannot refuse to comply with an EHCP once named.
If the school is named in an EHCP, Medway must fund the placement.
How are pupils referred to Inspire Academy?
Pupils are referred by the Local Authority. The Local Authority may refer students who, for example:
- Have had one or more permanent exclusions
- Cannot have their needs met by their current school (often a mainstream school)
- Have moved into the area and need a specialist provision
For more information please contact Inspire Academy by emailing: info@inspireacademy.org.uk
Click here to be directed to the Local Authority's School Admission Arrangements web page.
Page last updated: November 2024
