Base Admissions

Base Admissions Procedures & Criteria

Whilst we recognise that many children and young people may benefit from our provision and the caring, nurturing environment that we offer, we recommend placement only for those pupils who we feel require our provision in order to meet their full academic, social and emotional potential.  The final decision as to where a child is best placed to meet their needs remains with the Local Authority, taking into account consultation outcomes and parent/carer input.

  Trailblazer Base (National Curriculum pathway)

Trailblazer base may be the right place for a pupil if they fulfil some or all of the criteria below:

Pupils who have Autism as their primary need and all other needs are secondary. Behaviour needs are not the prime need and do not adversely affect the individual or host groups’ ability to benefit from the resource.

   Children whose behaviour and mental health allows them to consistently work in a small 
   group teaching environment and to implement taught self-regulation strategies with
   support and prompts from trained staff.

Pupils who are able to access a mainstream, non-secure environment safely and have some awareness of risk and expected safe behaviours.

Pupils may have sensory processing and regulation needs but are able to tolerate a mainstream environment.

Pupils who are accessing some subject specific learning, or the ‘engagement model’ or non-subject specific curriculum.

Pupils who have an awareness of intent to communicate and are able to verbally communicate their basic needs.

Pupils who are able to follow a simple, adult-led agenda with appropriate support i.e. able to engage in an activity not of their choosing for a short period.

Pupils who have an awareness of the presence of their peers and social interaction/communication skills are in early stages of development.

Pupils whose ability levels could allow some access to the mainstream curriculum offer. 

Engagement Model Pathway Trailblazer and Explorer Base:

These classes may be the right place for a pupil if they fulfil some or all of the criteria below:

Pupils who have Autism as their primary need and all other needs are secondary. Behaviour needs are not the prime need and do not adversely affect the individual or host groups’ ability to benefit from the resource.

Pupils are not working at National Curriculum standards and require a play-based curriculum to meet their needs through the Engagement Model pathway where pupils learn to learn.

Pupils are using emergent language or have a preferred communication tool.

Pupils require some support for co-regulation and sensory needs.

Pupils have a strong child led agenda but respond well to visual strategies.

Pupils who cannot integrate into mainstream or manage being in an overwhelming environment.

Referral:  When a referral is received from the Local Authority (LA), the school will consider the request and respond in writing within the time limit set by the Authority.  If the school consider that the child would not be appropriately placed in the ASD Opportunity Base, the Authority must be given the reasons for that recommendation.  The reasons should be expressed in terms of the needs of the child and the efficient education of other children already at the school.

Children resident outside the London Borough of Sutton will be referred by the Local Authority in which they are resident to the SEN Team in Sutton for consideration.  Referrals from another LA should be reported to the SEN Team at Sutton LA upon receipt.

Assessment:  When a referral is made, the LA will always attach the Education Health and Care Plan, the most recent Annual Review and any appended reports about the child from the professionals involved.  The LA will not wish the school to duplicate any assessment, but the school may need to seek up-to-date reports and observe the child if a recent report is not available.

The Head of School for the ASD Bases will review the referral papers and request any additional reports if required.  If, from the paperwork, they consider that the child does not meet the admissions criteria, they will inform the LA.

Transition: When placement has been agreed, contact will be made with the child’s current placement to arrange a transition programme with exchange of information and reciprocal visits where practical and appropriate

Exit Criteria:  The child will be referred to the SEN Panel if:

• it is considered that he/she has gained in independence and can access the mainstream curriculum without specialist support from the ASD Base;
• the changing needs of the child indicate that alternative provision may be more appropriate.

This process would come about under the review (Annual or Interim Review) process of the EHCP and would be in consultation with the family. 

ASD Base Admission Pack