Choosing the right school for your child is a big decision. At Compass Community Schools, we want families to understand how SEN school admissions work, what happens at each stage and who is responsible for making the final decision.
You are welcome to contact us and complete our enquiry form if you think a Compass school may be suitable for your child. This allows us to learn more about their needs and provide some initial guidance.
However, contacting us or completing the form does not begin the formal admissions process, guarantee a place or add your child to a waiting list. The formal process can only begin when your Local Authority sends us a consultation for your child.
If you are still considering whether specialist education may be appropriate, read our guide: Is a SEN school the right choice for my child?
Your Local Authority is responsible for consulting with schools, agreeing funding and confirming your child’s placement.
Compass Community Schools can assess whether a particular school may be able to meet your child’s needs and respond to the Local Authority. However, we cannot independently confirm or arrange a placement.
In almost all cases, your child will need an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to be placed at a Compass Community School.
Our schools are independent specialist provisions and are not maintained by Local Authorities. Placements are therefore usually arranged and funded by the Local Authority through the EHCP process.
If you are unfamiliar with EHCPs, our guide explains what an EHCP is, who may need one and how it can support your child.
If you think your child may need more support than is currently available to them, you can ask your Local Authority to carry out an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment.
You may also wish to speak to your child’s school SENCO for advice and support. More information about requesting an assessment is available in the GOV.UK guidance about support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
If you would like your child to be considered for a Compass Community School, you should:
You can also complete the Compass Schools enquiry form on this page and upload your child’s latest EHCP. This helps us understand their needs and consider whether one of our schools may potentially be suitable.
The enquiry form is an initial contact with Compass Schools. You will still need to speak to your Local Authority before any formal consultation or placement can be considered.
The formal process usually involves the following stages:
Timescales can vary because every child’s circumstances are different and each Local Authority follows its own consultation and decision-making process.
Providing a current EHCP and all relevant supporting documents can help the school assess the consultation properly. Compass Schools cannot confirm a start date until the Local Authority has formally agreed the placement and funding.
Where appropriate, a school may arrange a conversation or visit as part of understanding your child’s needs. A visit does not constitute an offer, confirm a placement or replace the Local Authority’s formal consultation process.
Our guide to choosing the right SEN school for your child explains what to look for, what to ask and how to decide whether a school could be the right fit.
You can also learn more about what happens during a typical day at a SEN school, including lessons, routines, therapeutic support and personalised learning.
If your child has an EHCP and you would like to find out whether a Compass Community School may potentially meet their needs, please complete the enquiry form below and upload their latest EHCP.
The information you provide will help us understand your enquiry and offer initial guidance. It does not begin the formal admissions process or guarantee that a place will be available.
To move forward formally, you must also speak to your child’s Local Authority EHCP caseworker and ask the Local Authority to consult with your preferred school.
You can contact us and complete an initial enquiry form, but you cannot arrange a Local Authority-funded placement directly with the school. Your Local Authority must send a formal consultation and approve the placement and funding.
No. Completing the form does not reserve a place, create a waiting-list position or guarantee that a school will be able to meet your child’s needs.
Parents and carers should speak directly to their child’s EHCP caseworker or discuss their preferred school during an Annual Review. It is the Local Authority that sends the formal consultation.
The school will respond to the Local Authority. The Local Authority must then consider the proposed placement and funding before it can be formally confirmed.
Individual transition planning begins after the Local Authority has formally confirmed the placement. The school will then work with your family and the professionals involved to help your child prepare for their start.
