Percy Hedley School

Admission to Percy Hedley School

Percy Hedley School supports children aged 3 to 19 years with speech, language and communication difficulties and/or cerebral palsy and other motor disorders.  The range and severity of the educational needs of children at Percy Hedley varies from those who require intensive work to help them learn basic foundation skills such as moving, looking and listening to engage in learning activities, to those who are able to attain more highly but would benefit from our trans-disciplinary approach. We also can support those children who are struggling with the expectations or pace of the mainstream classroom, finding it difficult to communicate and/or understand effectively, and require a more individualised approach to learning.

Our integrated educational programmes are highly specialised and appropriate for children with:

• Cerebral palsy or motor delay/disorder, including a range of associated problems, for example sensory, perceptual, auditory and visual
• Head injuries
• Genetic disorders resulting in motor impairment.
• Receptive, expressive and pragmatic language difficulties and disorder, including autistic spectrum conditions.

How to get referred

We are happy to receive referrals directly from a child’s parent or family member, and also from other bodies or agencies; for example:

• NHS professionals
• Children’s Services
• Education authorities
• Voluntary agencies
• Parent partnership services

How we respond

All enquiries taken by telephone or will be responded to as follows:

• The person enquiring should provide the basic details of the child and his or her needs. Where the child is currently educated (if of school age), why a place is being sought, whether the child has a statement or EHC plan,
• These details will be passed to a senior manager who will call the parent or person making the referral within three working days,
• If appropriate an appointment will be made for the family to visit Percy Hedley School for a look around the school and a more in depth discussion about the child’s needs.
• Information about Percy Hedley School’s services, practice, policies and procedures will be available to prospective parents during this visit.
• Following this visit Percy Hedley’s assessment team may visit the child in his/her current setting or in the home.
• If staff feel it is suitable an assessment period may be offered. This assessment may be up to four days and is an opportunity for the team to assess the child and their suitability for a place at Percy Hedley School. A teacher, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist and Educational Psychologist as appropriate, will assess the child.
• After the assessment period, parents will receive feedback of the assessment findings and confirmation of whether a place has been offered. A written version of the findings will be shared within ten working days. The local education authority will also be invited to attend the feedback meetings.
• If a place is not immediately available, the child’s name will be placed on a waiting list for admission. Parents will be kept informed about when a place will become available for their child.
• Access legal advice and support on the IPSEA website (Independent Parental Special Education Advice) to aid your application for non-maintained special schools such as Percy Hedley School.

if you are interested in an assessment for your child please contact:

Carla Maley on 0191 2165171

c.maley@percyhedley.org.uk