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Admissions Policy 2025-2026

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Policy details

Date created - 20/10/2020

Date reviewed by governors - September 2023

Next review date - September 2025

Policy details 1

Contents 1

Introduction 2

Transfer from other schools 2

Admission Arrangements 3

Allocation to Class group 4

Student records and files 4

Further information 4

Introduction

Co-op Academy Southfield provides education for students aged 11 to 19 years with clearly identified special educational needs who have an Education Health and Care Plan. Bradford Council is the home local authority which places students at Southfield, following consultations under the SEND Code of Practice 2015.

The academy is designated for pupils and students with Severe Learning Difficulties, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The academy’s Funding Agreement is for 260 pupils, however there has been approval given by the LWY Headteacher Board in January 2019 for this to be raised when additional building work had been completed. The Trustees of the Co-op Academies Trust agreed in January 2021 to cap this at 310 pupils, based on the capacity of the existing building(s). This building work has been undertaken, and the school has a planned increase of students from the existing 310 to 360 over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year. This process will begin once the additional space has been officially handed over to the Academy.

The majority of students will be admitted on the basis of an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), which names Co-op Academy Southfield, but occasionally the local authority arranges for students to be admitted who are in the process of being assessed for an EHCP, or for a period of assessment. In order for this procedure to be effective sufficient time must be allowed before transfer to satisfy all parties concerned that the suggested placement is appropriate.

In considering the suitability of a placement, Co-op Academy Southfield will take all reasonable steps to meet each student’s needs, but will also take into account the effect this could have on the existing school population in terms of behaviour, health and safety, quality of learning within the class group and potential risk to vulnerable peers. The academy will always consider the efficient use of resources and the impact on the provision of efficient education of other children when responding to consultations for a place. Although SEND designation alone will not be a reason to decline a consultation for a place, the academy does make provision for some very vulnerable and fragile students and so does not provide a suitable and safe learning environment for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) identified as part of their pattern of special educational needs.

Parents and carers who may be considering Co-op Academy Southfield as a suitable placement for their child, should contact Bradford’s SEN team first (01274 435750) to discuss a possible placement.

A preliminary visit to the school can be made by contacting the SENCo to arrange a suitable date and time. General ‘open’ visits are scheduled once per half term to minimise disruption to the curriculum and students’ learning. Further information is available from the school’s website.

In line with our Equality Policy, Co-op Academy Southfield accepts students irrespective of gender, religion, sexuality, disability, race or belief.

Transfer from other schools

Each year the majority of our Year 7 students join us from Bradford's primary special schools at the end of Year 6.

In addition, students may be admitted from a variety of other schools, which include mainstream primary or secondary schools. In such cases, it is anticipated that a representative from Southfield, and the NHS specialist school nurse, will have the opportunity to visit the student at school before transfer.

Students transferring into Year 7 from primary schools have the opportunity to participate in an extended transition programme, including supported visits to the school during summer term of Year 6.

Liaison takes place between the feeder school, Bradford’s Children and Young People’s Services and Co-op Academy Southfield to ensure that all relevant information has been transferred and the transition experience is positive and successful for students, parents and carers.

Students may also transfer from other schools into the Southfield Sixth Form at the end of Year 11 to benefit from personalised education to help them develop independence and skills for adulthood.

Admission Arrangements

Prior to a place being offered at Co-op Academy Southfield, it is essential that parents and the student visit the school and have opportunities to have their questions answered.

When a student has been offered a place by the local authority, the parents may be invited to contact the school again to further discuss their child's strengths and individual learning, social, medical and personal needs. At this stage, the parents will be informed who the student's Class Teacher will be, if this information is available.

In certain circumstances, parents and professionals may together decide that a pupil's needs will be best met by a gradual introduction into Co-op Academy Southfield. Flexible arrangements will be negotiated in such a case.

Although the majority of students commence their places each September, in-year placements can also be arranged, usually starting after the half-term or school holiday breaks, once all care planning documentation has been received and any necessary training has been provided for staff.

Provision of Health and Therapy support and services

Children and young people who have had their needs assessed for an EHC plan should have their non-educational health and therapy needs clearly identified in the relevant section of the plan. In these cases there should be a clear description of the arrangements put in place by the LA for these services to be provided by the NHS or other commissioned health providers.

If personal budgets have been allocated, the LA should ensure that health commissioners provide a clear description of the scope of the family’s responsibilities to provide health or medical support in the school, and an assurance of their competence to do so. In such circumstances the Co-op Academies Trust may need to take independent advice to ensure that all liabilities (such as 3rd Party) are fully identified and accounted for, before the child can commence in attendance at school.

Any ‘delegated health tasks’ (including for therapy purposes that does not educate or train) should be clearly set out in section G of the EHC plan, along with arrangements for the provision of training, assessment of competence, and ongoing clinical supervision of any school staff who may need to undertake these tasks.

Allocation to Class group

The student will be placed in an appropriate teaching group of approximately eight to ten students with an assigned teacher taking responsibility and being the first point of contact with the home. Students are placed in class groups within Key Stages.

Student records and files

When the EHCP and other records from the previous school arrive, they will be circulated to the school leadership team, Class Teacher, Director of Care and Wellbeing, and other appropriate staff.

Further information

If you would like independent advice about special education needs provisions and decisions affecting your child in school, parents and families can also contact Bradford Parent and Young

People’s Partnership Service on 01274 481183.

You can find more information about the special educational needs schools in Bradford by visiting the Local Offer website https://localoffer.bradford.gov.uk/