DfEE Green Paper (22/10/1997) - Admission arrangements for children with SEN

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4 Increasing inclusion

Admission arrangements for children with SEN

9. The White Paper Excellence in schools signalled important reforms in the way school admission arrangements are to be agreed and co-ordinated. Local forums of headteachers and governors will be encouraged to discuss admission arrangements in their areas, and any disagreements between admission authorities which cannot be resolved through dialogue will in most cases be settled by an independent adjudicator. A new statutory Code of Practice will be binding on all admission authorities, and on the adjudicator.

10. These new arrangements will have important implications for the admission of children with SEN but without statements. The admissions Code of Practice will stress that such children must be treated no less favourably than other applicants. The new voluntary forums will be able to take stock of the overall impact and operation of local arrangements on the admission of pupils with SEN, and the adjudicator will if necessary resolve disagreements. For children with statements the arrangements confirming access to the school named in the statement will continue.

11 It is sometimes suggested that schools may be reluctant to admit pupils with SEN because of their possible impact on a school's standing in the performance tables. From 1998, the transition to locally published primary school tables will give LEAs the flexibility to include more data and background information to set results in context. Value added measures in both primary and secondary tables will mean that success in raising the levels of achievement of children with SEN receives fuller recognition.

QUESTION: What should the proposed Code of Practice on admissions say about the admission of pupils with SEN?

31/08/2000