Admissions for an Area Resource Base (ARB) or Special School place are done two different ways:
- Via an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Statutory Assessment
- Through information from an Annual Review Meeting
The Statutory Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Panel make the decision about allocation of these places.
Key points about ARB and Special School admissions
Information from Annual Review Meetings need to include clear evidence about:
- Current provision
- Pupil progress
- Any available parental preference for school placement
Any change of provision will be considered at the Statutory Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Panel. For example, from mainstream to ARB. There will be extra panel meetings at certain times of the year. This is to manage the increased number of applications.
Before secondary transfer, for example:
- Information about children who may need a specialist placement is collated by professionals. These professionals will work with the children and their families. They share it with the Statutory SEND Service.
- Occasionally a child or young person with very complex needs may be placed in a ARB or Special School before an EHC Assessment. For example, when a family move into Cornwall from abroad. This is an assessment placement and is also agreed by Statutory Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Panel.
