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husbandry and horticulture. In addition to classrooms and residential homes,
there is a purpose-built dining room; multi-sensory suite; occupational therapy
rooms; art room; life-skills room; swimming pool; indoor and outdoor gym; allweather
track for running, cycling and walking; a stableyard, paddocks and
outdoor classroom for learning animal husbandry; and an on-site bakery for
vocational skills.
12. Admissions process
How is the decision made about what type and how much support my
child/young person will receive?
Admissions process
Prior's Court School welcomes parents, carers/guardians and professionals with
frequent open mornings and visits to enable families, carers and local authorities
to consider whether the school might be suitable for the young person.
An initial screening of papers is undertaken by lead practitioners who then
feedback to the Admissions Panel to establish suitability to assess the young
person. With the support of the Local Authority, the young person and their
parents/carers are invited to an on-site assessment undertaken by senior lead
practitioners with significant experience and members of the multi-disciplinary
team. A second assessment in the current provision or young person's home is
undertaken if necessary.
The assessment, together with further information from parents/carers and
professionals, is considered by the Admissions Panel to determine whether
Prior's Court School would be able to meet the young person's needs, provide an
appropriate peer group and enable progress. The Admissions Panel includes the
lead practitioners involved in the assessment as well as senior staff from the
leadership teams.
The Admissions Panel ensures the admissions criteria can be met, in
particular that the young person has a diagnosis of autism and moderate-tosevere learning
difficulties and that a place is available in an appropriate peer
group. Based on this assessment, an offer of a placement is made giving details
of how the school would meet the young person's special needs, the staffing
level required (usually 1:1, although a higher level of staffing during the initial
settling in period is sometimes needed) and a proposed start date.
Decisions by the Admissions Panel are guided by Prior's Court School's
Admissions Policy and the SEN Code of Practice. The Admissions Panel confirm
that the admissions criteria have been met and that a place is available before
an offer of placement may be made.
Please contact the Admissions team or see the Admissions Policy, which is
available from the school reception or the website, for full details of the
admissions process and criteria.