At Helm Academy we welcome all enquiries for placements and requests to visit and tour the school from prospective parents and pupils who are looking for their school of choice. However, all final referrals must be made via the local authority referral process and a full consultation process undertaken.
The school supports pupils and young people with a full EHCP and an SEN for SEMH and high functioning ASC, also those who suffer from EBSA – Emotionally Based School Avoidance, who now find themselves EOTAS – Educated Other Than At School.
These young people need a therapeutic environment tailored to meet their individual needs and requirements, where mainstream education has not been able to support these needs, as set out in the EHCP documents.
Referral Process
- Home school and parents / carers / LA / Social Services, to make a referral request to the provision
- All referral paperwork to be completed in full and submitted with supporting documentation - as per the request form
- All complexity, policy and rationale documentation to be included for reference
- Is there space in the provision in this year group? (If yes, see below. If no, the process can go no further and all parties must be informed)
- All returned paperwork to be reviewed by the Head of Inclusion and the appropriate members of the SLT including receiving Headteacher and SENCO
- Does the pupil meet the requirements of the provision?
- Have the pupils thoughts been accurately recorded and submitted?
- What liaison from the requestor and needs of the pupil?
- Will external support be required?
- What has already been tried and with what success?
- Has all of the relevant information requested been reviewed?
- Is a provisional meeting appropriate?
- Will there be CPD requirements for staff?
- Send out appropriate responses - acceptance of an initial meeting, or rejection of the request
- Send out times and dates for an initial meeting to all parties involved in the request. Attendance is compulsory for the placement to be considered. Full notes to be taken on the appropriate forms
- Why choose Helm Academy?
- Views of all parties, including discussion with pupil
- What has been tried already?
- How do we see a successful outcome?
- Expectations and standards at Helm Academy
- Tour of the provision
- Why were other provisions been considered, if so which and why?
- Written response from Helm Academy to be sent within 4 days – offer letter and induction information – dates times, people, location, agreement forms
- Pupil requirements
- Integration timetable
- Baseline profile for academic levels to inform academic curriculum
- Requirements for Baseline SEMH needs
- Bespoke target setting in line with pupil requirements e.g. baseline results, EHCP, attendance
- Dates set for review
