Assessment process

Referrals are usually made by Local Education Authorities following their own assessments and where the agreed conclusion is that the child’s needs cannot be met within their maintained local mainstream, unit or special school provision. No charge is made to the LEA for assessment of pupils at St Dominic’s. Any assessment would normally be carried out no more than one year in advance of a potential placement. The referral process usually commences by the LEA sending all relevant papers to the school for consideration. Under these circumstances, the following process then ensues:

• The school’s Assessment Team considers whether or not, on the basis of the information provided, an assessment should be offered to the LEA.  The team is multi-disciplinary and is led by the Principal.  If the consensus of opinion is that St Dominic’s might be an appropriate placement, the procedure continues as follows:
• A mutually convenient assessment date is agreed between the school and the family. Each assessment takes place over three days, usually Tuesday to Thursday from 9.00am to 3.20pm for a day placement, or from 9.00am Tuesday to 9.00am Friday inclusive for a residential placement. The assessment includes formal testing as well as informal observation of the child’s general conduct. Their impact on the wellbeing of the existing pupils and the dynamics of the groups is also taken into account in reaching a decision.
• A decision is made as to whether the school can meet the educational, therapy, social and (where appropriate) medical needs of the child on assessment, and consequently whether a place will be offered. This decision is generally taken at a Pupil Panel Meeting held on the Wednesday evening following the assessment period, where the potential placement of the child is discussed by the Assessment Team.
• The LEA is generally informed of the outcome in writing the following day and sent the reports covering the assessment areas. Copies are also sent to the parents and (if appropriate) other interested agencies.
• If the outcome of the assessment is positive and a place is offered to the LEA, this can begin as soon as is practically possible and beneficial for the child, and can be immediate where appropriate, subject to the school’s terms and conditions.

The school’s Assessment Team will also consider papers sent in by parents in order to gauge the appropriateness of a potential placement at St Dominic’s, and to assist them in deciding whether to pursue a formal request to their LEA. However, assessments cannot be undertaken at the request of parents unless on the basis of the information provided, an assessment has been offered to them subject to LEA involvement, and where the parents have subsequently lodged an appeal to an SEN Tribunal over the issue of placement.