Relevant policies

The information given below is a brief summary of Trafford’s Policies and Procedures for the 2021 academic year and is correct at the time of writing but policies are constantly kept under review and there may well be further changes within the education system which affect these policy statements arising from national legislation. In cases of doubt please contact the School Admissions Team.

Children with Special Educational Needs

The Education Act 1996 prescribes statutory processes for assessing children who may have special educational needs which necessitate special educational provision being made. All children whose Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan names the school must be admitted as required by paragraph 1.6 of the School Admissions Code.

If you think that your child may have special educational needs, please discuss the matter with the Head of the school. The Head may under take individual assessment and monitoring of your child’s progress and may request advice from other agencies. 

The Trafford SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) provides free, confidential, impartial advice and support to parent carers, children and young people aged 0 - 25 in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

Education other than at School

Elective Home Education

The Department for Education (DfE) use the term Elective Home Education (EHE) to describe when parents decide to provide education for their children and young people at home, instead of sending them to school.

Parents can elect to home educate at any stage up to the end of compulsory school age and are required to provide efficient full-time education.

Parents of pupils placed at a special school under arrangements made by the local authority, must obtain the consent from the LA to de- register the child from school.

Parents who choose to educate their children at home must be prepared to take on full financial responsibility, including the cost of any public examinations.

Further information on the Elective Home Education Service in Trafford

Children who can’t attend school for health reasons

If your child is unable to attend school due to ongoing health reasons or whilst recovering from treatment or injury, the school should involve you in preparing an Individual healthcare plan (IHP). This will outline the support to be put in place by the school, and, if necessary, other agencies. If your child is still unable to access their education, the school can make a referral for education to be provided in the interim by the Medical Education Service. 

Hospital Teaching Service

If your child is admitted to hospital for a lengthy period, education will usually be provided by teachers employed at the hospital. The school should lead on an Individual Healthcare Plan which will identify what is to be put in place when your child leaves hospital.

Children with English as an Additional Language

Children with English as an additional language will be supported from their first day in school by class teachers and support staff. Expert advice is also available for schools and parents from the specialist (ESOL) Team based in Trafford.

Grants

The Authority does not assist with the purchase of school uniform.

Fair Access Protocol (In Year Applications)

Each local authority must have a Fair Access Protocol to ensure that unplaced and vulnerable children, and those who are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, are allocated a school place as quickly as possible.

Fair Access Protocols may only be used to place the following groups of vulnerable and/or hard to place children, where they are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, and it can be demonstrated that reasonable measures have been taken to secure a place through the usual in-year admission procedures:

  • Children either subject to a Child in Need Plan or a Child Protection Plan  or having had a Child in Need Plan or a Child Protection Plan within 12 months at the point of being referred to the Protocol;
  • Children living in a refuge or in other Relevant Accommodation at the point of being referred to the Protocol;
  • Children from the criminal justice system;
  • Children in alternative provision who need to be reintegrated into mainstream education or who have been permanently excluded but are deemed suitable for mainstream education;
  • Children with special educational needs (but without an Education, Health and Care plan), disabilities or medical conditions;
  • Children who are carers;
  • Children who are homeless;
  • Children in formal kinship care arrangements;
  • Children of, or who are, Gypsies, Roma, Travellers, refugees, and asylum seekers;
  • Children who have been refused a school place on the grounds of their challenging behaviour;
  • Children for whom a place has not been sought due to exceptional circumstances;
  • Children who have been out of education for four or more weeks where it can be demonstrated that there are no places available at any school within a reasonable distance of their home. This does not include circumstances where a suitable place has been offered to a child and this has not been accepted; and
  • Previously looked after children for whom the local authority has been unable to promptly secure a school place.

Fair Access referrals are considered by Trafford’s Pupil Placement Panel (PPP). The PPP will meet on a half termly basis, as required. The PPP will hear evidence/submissions from relevant officers before determining the appropriate school to be allocated.

Milk, Meals and Refreshments

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically qualify for a Free School Meal under the universal scheme.

Find out more about Free School Meals in Trafford.