Kingsbury Primary Special School
Admissions
Is Kingsbury the right place for my child?
At Kingsbury, we welcome children 4-11 with an EHCP, catering to children with a range of special educational needs.
If children are starting with us in Reception or Year 1, they begin their journey at Kingsbury Cottage in Scarisbrick, our EYFS satellite provision, before transitioning to our School Lane campus in Skelmersdale.
Our curriculum pathways are designed to provide a creative, holistic experience, that is tailored to your child. If you have any questions or would like to arrange a visit please get in touch
What is the Admissions process?
1. EHCP or annual review
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), Lancashire County Council will consult with schools as part of the placement process and consider parental preference when naming a school. If your child does not yet have an EHCP, or is currently being assessed, you should still apply through the standard admissions process to ensure your child does not miss out on a school place.
2. State your preference
During the EHCP assessment or annual review process, parents and carers have the opportunity to express a preference for Kingsbury Primary School. We encourage families to visit the school, speak with our team and consider whether our specialist provision is the right fit for their child's needs.
3. Local Authority
Lancashire County Council's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Team will consider your child's needs, professional advice, parental preference and the availability of appropriate provision before deciding which school should be named in the EHCP.
4. Consultation
As part of this process, the Local Authority consults with Kingsbury Primary School and, where appropriate, other specialist settings. School leaders carefully review the information provided to determine whether they can meet your child's needs and whether a suitable place is available.
5. You start your journey with Kingsbury
Once Kingsbury Primary School is named in your child's EHCP, we will work closely with you, your child and any previous setting to plan a smooth and positive transition. Our aim is to ensure every child feels happy, safe and ready to thrive as part of our school community. Offering a nurturing environment where children are at the heart of everything we do.
So, what happens next?
Your First Week at Kingsbury!
Home Visit
Before you begin at Kingsbury you and your child will be visited by their class teacher and a member of SLT or our Family Support officer. During this visit we will go over any remaining paperwork, go through what you can expect, and make sure that we get to know your child so they have a friendly, recognisable face on their first day with us. We want to make this transition as easy as possible for you as we know how daunting it can be.
We will also make sure you are set up with EduLink (our communication system for parents), Tapestry (where you can be updated with your child's progress in line with their EHCP), and our class websites. If you're having any trouble with these, you can also find help on our Parent Apps page.
Transport
If you have applied for transport with the council, your child will be collected from home and brought to school ready for their first day! If you have any concerns about this for your child, please get in touch.
If requested, we can reach out to the council for a picture of the Passenger Assistant (often referred to as a PA) and the driver so that your child knows these are safe adults who will be helping them get to school.
If you haven't yet applied for Transport, but are eligible and would like to, please read the following:
Apply for Transport
Is my child eligible for Free Transport from Lancashire County Council?
Where a child has special educational needs and/or disability, travel assistance is available to children who:
- are a resident of Lancashire (not including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen)
- are in school Year 11 or below (all children at Kingsbury)
- have an Education, Health, Care Plan
- have a placement at the school named in their EHCP (if you choose to send your child to a school that Lancashire County council does not consider to be the nearest suitable school, there is no duty to provide free transport. You will need to make your own transport arrangements)
What happens after applying?
SEND Officers will decide whether your child gets free travel to school, using the information submitted during their statutory assessment.
If you're eligible, your SEND caseworker or school will let transport staff know the support needed, and a risk assessment will be written. This risk assessment and the travel arrangements will be kept under review, The annual review of your child's EHCP provides a formal opportunity to review any transport arrangements.
Their first day!
It's time for your child's first day at Kingsbury! Whether they're starting at our School Lane Campus, or Kingsbury Cottage, their morning timetable will be the same. You can find more information here: Parents and Carers
What now?
In your child's first week you can expect a phone call from their class teacher to let you know how they're settling. You will also get daily updates at the end of each school day via EduLink messages. Your child's learning will be documented on Tapestry, with pictures and a little write up - if your child has achieved a milestone at home no matter how big or small, we encourage you to upload this too!
You'll also be sent access to their own personal "My Kingsbury Experience" webpage where we document any life experiences outside of academics (their first day of school, red nose day, their class trips, etc.).
We're here for you every step of the way. You can contact us via the school office email, or edulink if you need any further support.
Additional Information
A pupil can be admitted at any stage of the school year following the procedure laid out below, so long as there is a place vacant, and we can meet his/her needs. However, the Local Authority will make the decision about whether to allocate a place to a child in our school.
Once admitted to our school, the pupil’s progress is reviewed termly. The Statement of Special Educational Needs/ Education, Health and Care plan is reviewed on an annual basis. We also review the placement to ensure that a pupil is correctly placed. Movement to another school for a more suitable situation, if appropriate, is always an option that parents, or school, can initiate.