All Cambridgeshire’s maintained schools support pupils with a wide range of learning difficulties and are also aware of the particular needs of the very able.

The admission procedures for children with statements of special educational need are set out in the 1996 Education Act and are different from those of other children.

For some children attendance at a special school or a mainstream school with specialist facilities may be stipulated in their statement of special educational need. If your child has a statement you will discuss school placements with one of the County Council’s Special Needs Officers as part of the annual reviews leading up to school placement. Where a particular school is named in the child’s statement of special educational needs because no other school can meet that child’s needs, the Admissions Team or the governing body in the case of a foundation or voluntary aided school has a duty to admit the child to that school. This happens in only a very small number of cases. If parents wish to express a preference for a different school, this should be done via the common application form rather than by asking the special needs officer to change the statement. For the most part the local catchment area school will be named in the child’s statement. For pupils with statements who attend mainstream schools, a Common Application Form must be completed. It is essential that you tick the box on the Form to inform us if your child has a statement of special educational needs. Please do this even if you are hoping for a special school placement.

Schools will try, wherever possible, to accommodate children who have mobility difficulties. However, by their very nature, some buildings are more accessible than others. If you have a child who needs wheelchair access or has other mobility difficulties, please contact the Admissions Team (or the governing body in the case of foundation and aided schools). If it is not possible to offer your child a place in their local mainstream school or school of preference, an alternative placement will be offered.

If your child has a statement of special educational need and it is not possible to provide a place at one of the schools named on your Common Application Form, any appeal that you might wish to make would be heard by a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. The timescale for such appeals is usually about three months.

A link to the Special Needs service is provided on the right-hand side.