Availability

Referral required

Yes

Referral details

The admissions process for an Area Resource Base (ARB) or special school place is via an education, health and care (EHC) statutory assessment or through the information and evidence gathered at an annual review meeting.

The decision about allocation of these places is the responsibility of the Special Educational Needs Resource Panel (SERP). There is no longer a separate application form or admissions panels for special schools and ARBs.

Key points about special school and ARB admissions:

• Information from annual review meetings need to include clear evidence about current provision, pupil progress and any available parental preference for school placement.  Any change of provision eg from mainstream to ARB, will be considered at SERP. There will be extraordinary panel meetings at particular times of the year to manage the increased number of applications eg prior to secondary transfer
  
  
• Information about children in the early years who may require a specialist placement when starting school is collated by professionals who work with children and families in the early years. This information is shared with the SEN Assessment and Provision Team.
  
  
• In some rare circumstances eg when a family move into Cornwall from abroad, a child or young person with very complex needs may be placed in a special school or ARB prior to the conclusion of an EHC assessment. This is an assessment placement and is also agreed by SERP.