Admissions

School Admission criteria

Woodlands School is registered to offer places to pupils who have complex and enduring needs of a medical, physical or sensory impairment nature and who are aged between 2 and 19 years old. 

Many of our pupils also have an associated learning need alongside their other challenges.

Our school provides for children whose needs are captured by the following agreed definition: 

• Pupils will have complex needs. This means that they will have co-existing conditions that overlap and interlock, creating a complex profile. Physical and sensory will be indicated as the most significant need on pupils’ EHC plans.
• This will be a single or multi-sensory impairment and/or a physical disability and/or the impact of long-term illness.
• The Pupils’ complex disabilities will mean that they will require specialist care for a range of medical needs, for example, gastrostomies and tracheostomies.
• Cognition and learning will be indicated as a need on pupils’ EHCPs.
• The co-occurring and compounding nature of pupils’ complex needs will require a personalised learning pathway that recognises their unique and changing learning patterns.
• Pupils’ multi-sensory impairments may co-occur with a communication and interaction need, such as autism.

All children who attend must have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which describes their individual areas of special needs and informs his/her individual education plan.

Click here to access our SEND and Disability Information Report.

How to access a place at Woodlands School

Parents/Carers and Guardians will be consulted about their chosen school as part of the process of obtaining an EHCP for their child.  As part of this process,  professionals working with your family will suggest suitable schools for you to visit.   Professionals are also welcome to attend to provide support.  

Visits can be arranged by contacting our school office on 01752 300101 or emailing admin@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk   

Following a visit,  Parents/Carers and Guardians should express their preferred school choice to the Local Authority directly via their contact or using the following email address senadmin@plymouth.gov.uk

For more information see Visiting and placements in a special school - Plymouth Online Directory

 The Local Authority are the Admitting Authority for Woodlands School and make the final decision regarding awarding places. All Admissions to Woodlands are made through this route for pupils from any Local Authority area.

The Local Authority’s Children and Young People’s 0-25 Service Single Multi-Agency Matching Panel discuss applications to place children at Woodlands following agreement with the school.  

Professionals are also encouraged to visit us the school to increase their knowledge of our provision as it is constantly evolving.

Once a School Place has Been Agreed

If a place has been offered to your child at Woodlands we will work with you to find the best way to undertake a positive transition.

We have a supportive process for managing the entry of all new pupils into school, whatever their age, which covers all aspects of their needs including: education, health and care.

Admissions may take place at any time during the year, if places are available.

For further information please visit our Policies page.