SEN Admissions

Process for admission – Main School – Learning Support

The Admissions Procedure for students with Education & Health Care Plans is different from other students.  Parents wishing to name Hendon on their child’s Plan should contact their Local Authority.  Transition to secondary school is an important part of the discussion at Annual Reviews for children in Years 5 and 6.

Process for admission – HARP

Hendon Autism Resourced Provision (HARP) provides a specialist education for children with autistic spectrum conditions in a safe, secure environment. There are a total of 21 places in HARP and admissions are managed by the London Borough of Barnet. 

The local authority (LA), London Borough of Barnet, is the admitting authority to HARP as they have the duty to decide whether to name a school or school specific provision on an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) in accordance with the requirements set out in the Children and Families Act 2014. In the event of another LA requesting a place in HARP this request will be considered as part of the process below and Barnet LA will advise that authority. This process will be implemented by the Children’s Service usually on an annual basis in the second half of the Autumn term.

HARP is designed to provide for students who:
  1. have a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum condition from a medically qualified clinician which is accepted as the primary special educational need and included in an Education and Health Care Plan;
  2. have cognitive or attainment levels similar to peers in the mainstream so needs can be met through reasonable differentiation, modification and adaptation of the mainstream curriculum to enable high levels of inclusion into the mainstream classes;
  3. have demonstrated ability to benefit from access to appropriate peer models of social and communicative behaviour;
  4. during key stage 2, have demonstrated the ability to learn and implement strategies to modify their behaviour in response to specific interventions and contexts which have been clearly identified and evidenced in their support plans;
  5. in moments of dysregulation be able to respond to strategies of support identified in their support plan and within the medium-risk setting that HARP provides;
  6. be able to function effectively in the mainstream with one Learning Support Assistant for every two students or in the provision with one Learning Support Assistant for every two students;
  7. be within reasonable independent or supported travel distance (up to 60 minutes is recommended as noted by AA’s online Route Planner) and be able to make a reasonable home to school transition and start to the school day.

Students who do not meet the above criteria are unlikely to thrive in HARP which is part of a mainstream school of over 1200 students. We aim for the full inclusion of all HARP students in the mainstream school over time, and the education of each student needs to be compatible with the efficient education and health and safety of all others.

To aid appropriate placement decision making, applicants will be assessed against the above criteria to ensure both the efficient education of the student placed and other students in the school and the efficient use of the Local Authority resources.  Parents should express an interest by form or letter to the local authority* for Hendon HARP by the deadline in October set by the local authority. The LA will provide all available paperwork to Hendon within 14 days of the request.

*SEN Casework Manager, Ground Floor, Building 2, London Borough of Barnet, NLBP, Oakleigh Road South, New Southgate, N11 1NP

Process for admission – PDS

Our Provision for Deaf Students (PDS) provides specialist education for children with significant hearing loss that can impact their access to education and society. There are a total of 10 places in PDS and admissions are managed by the London Borough of Barnet. 

The local authority (LA), London Borough of Barnet, is the admitting authority to PDS as they have the duty to decide whether to name a school or school specific provision on an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) in accordance with the requirements set out in the Children and Families Act 2014. In the event of another LA requesting a place in PDS, this request will be considered as part of the process below and Barnet LA will advise that authority. This process will be implemented by the Children’s Service usually on an annual basis in the second half of the Autumn term.

PDS is designed to provide for students who:
  1. have a significant and diagnosed hearing loss, which impacts their ability to access education and society. This diagnosis must be provided by a medically qualified clinician and recognized as the primary special educational need, as outlined in the individual’s EHCP;
  2. have cognitive or attainment levels similar to peers in the mainstream so needs can be met through reasonable differentiation, modification and adaptation of the mainstream curriculum to enable high levels of inclusion into the mainstream classes;
  3. be within reasonable independent or supported travel distance (up to 60 minutes is recommended as noted by AA’s online Route Planner) and be able to make a reasonable home to school transition and start to the school day.

There are cases were a young person’s admission to another school or ARP may also be considered at other points in the school year. If the young person is in receipt of an EHCP, we would advise the parent/carer to speak to their child’s SENCO and LA if they would like to request a change in placement.