Admissions
Making a Referral to Courtlands School
Referrals to the school for new placements generally come to us in two ways.
Local Authority Referrals
Firstly, there are those made at the official request by the Local Authority directly. In this process, the Local Authority usually sends a range of documents and a copy of the student’s ECHP asking us to look at the information and to consider whether we can meet the student’s needs.
Where we feel that we might need more information we will go back to the Local Authority to clarify the situation. After receiving permission from the Local Authority, we would contact the parents or carers to arrange either a home visit or to invite them to visit the school with their child.
Parent or Carers Requests
The second type of referral comes to us at the request of a parent or carer who normally sends a copy of their child’s ECHP and a request to visit the school.
Where this happens, we normally offer an opportunity for parents or carers to visit and to meet with the Head Teacher or Assistant Head, where they can talk more about their child’s needs and have a look around the school and ask any question they might have. However, it should be noted at this stage that although we may be able to meet the child’s needs and have a space available, we cannot formally offer a place until the Local Authority sanctions it.
Referrals by Post
Local Authorities, parents, and carers can post information to
The Head Teacher
Courtlands Special School
37 Parkland Avenue
Goring by Sea
BN12 4NG
Referrals by Email
Referrals should be sent to referrals@courtlands-school.co.uk
What type of information would we like you to send?
- A copy of the most up to date ECHP
- A report/pen picture from the student’s most recent school
- Any other recent assessments or reports from other agencies supporting the child including CAMHs, Clinical Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, or any other specialist who has recently conducted an assessment.
- Up to date information from the Social Worker where the child is a Child in Need, or a Child in Care.
Time Scales
Having received all the information and made any necessary contacts with those supporting the child, if we feel that we cannot meet their needs, we will send confirmation of this to the Local Authority within 7 working days of the referral.
Arrangements to visit the school or home will be made after receiving permission to go ahead by the Local Authority. Once sanctioned we will contact parents or carers within three days to organise a visit.
Where we have completed the admission process and offered a place, the time between this and an actual start date can vary depending on what arrangements the Local Authority must make beforehand. For example, it may depend on a final sign-off by the SEN panel, or time to arrange transport.
Informal Visits to the School
Where parents or carers want to make an informal visit to see the school they can do so by emailing us at:
or by phone on: 01903 255900
Taster days
On occasions we may offer a series taster days to potential students to see whether we can meet their needs and to make sure that Courtlands is the most appropriate school.
“Soft Starters”
There are times when new students who have been offered a place find it difficult to start because they have been out of education for a long time, or if they experience elevated levels of anxiety because they find it difficult to manage change or new people. So, to support, this we can offer a more gradual and supported entry into the school, staggering it with a tailor made “Soft Start” package. For example, this could initially be just visiting for several mornings or attending a number of selected lessons or spending time with the school SENCO or a Therapist to find a well-managed entry plan.
Naturally, we would want this to be over the shorts time possible because we really want the student to get the full Courtlands experience as quickly as possible and to feel safe and have a sense of belonging. Nevertheless, where we do offer a “Soft Start” we will work closely with parents and carers and the Local Authority to make sure that everybody involved remains informed about the situation and that time frames for induction or any further obstacles are shared.