About the School Place Planning team
The School Place Planning team works to ensure there are sufficient school places for all children in Warwickshire. As part of this remit the team works closely with School Admissions and deals with everything from schools taking extra pupils, changes to PANs, school expansions to the opening of new schools. In order to plan effectively the county is broken down into education areas (roughly based on district/borough boundaries) and then further into school planning areas.
Planning areas have been recently reviewed and agreed with the ESFA to allow the need for school places to be better reflected and monitored in all areas of the county. These have been drawn based around groupings of schools that serve the same communities and will often have a large amount of movement between the individual schools priority areas within the overall planning area.
Over the next 15 years Warwickshire is expecting large amounts of housing growth across the county and the School Place Planning team are looking to be as forward thinking as possible to ensure children moving in to Warwickshire can access quality education in their local area.
At the start of June we ran an academy sponsors event to discuss areas of growth with Academy Trusts and highlight potential new schools that will require a sponsor. This event was well attended attracting both Academy trusts already operating in Warwickshire and those from further afield.
More information on School Place Planning is available in the Sufficiency Strategy available online at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolorganisation
Considerations for school place planning
When reviewing the need for additional school places, particularly when schools ask to expand, the School Place Planning team will start by considering the following:
Pupil Forecasts - The School Place Planning team produce pupil number forecasts each year based on birth data for all Warwickshire children. Parental preference is then factored in based on past trends as well as the amount of in year movement expected as the year group’s move through the school. On top of this we then factor in the number of children generated as a result of new housing, based on the expected build trajectories provided by the districts and boroughs or developers.
4% Capacity – The target set out in the Sufficiency Strategy is to maintain 4% available capacity across any planning area to allow in year applications to be accommodated whenever possible. In real terms this means when planning school places we do not expect all schools to be full in all year groups, all of the time. Likewise when considering requests for expansion the available capacity in other schools in the area needs to be considered.
School Admissions Code – All school organisation projects must take account of the practicalities of how school places are allocated. Any place planning decision must comply with the School Admissions Code and pupils must be able to access the places intended for them.
Home to School Transport – We are committed to providing local places for local children whenever possible. Any impact on Home to School Transport budgets are considered when planning additional school places and any increase in transport costs expected needs to be factored into the value for money of providing those school places.
Mythbusters on school place planning
Section 106 funding – Funds received from section 106 are paid by developers to mitigate the impact on local infrastructure by their development.
In terms of education this means there has to be a robust case to justify that any proposed development will have an adverse impact on the existing education infrastructure before any funds can be requested. If there is existing and/or forecast capacity at schools in the area surrounding a development the local authority cannot request developer contributions towards education provision.
There is no guarantee that funds requested will be received and all funds received must be used towards providing additional school spaces through the specific project or at the specific school named in the signed S106 agreement. Regulations exist to ensure contributions are only requested where necessary.
All agreements usually have a specified time frame for the funds to be spent and any unused funds or funds not used for the agreed purpose are likely to be requested back by developers.
Pupil Number Forecasts – Pupil forecasts are produced to highlight areas where there is expected to be future pressure on school places, these form the basis of our basic need allocation from the DfE. Forecast pupil numbers are also used when planning the most effective time to open school expansions and new schools, ensuring need is met in a timely manner. However forecasts at individual school level only act as a guide to future pupil numbers and must always be viewed in the context of that schools’ planning area.
School Expansions – All school expansions, including taking over number or increasing PAN, will be reviewed in the context of the wider planning area and beyond if necessary. This is to ensure expansion of any school is not to the detriment of others in the area, to effectively plan for future sufficiency of school places we need to ensure all schools remain viable.
Opening of New Schools – All new schools are required to open as free schools. The expansion of existing provision is always considered before exploring the need to open a new school. Across Warwickshire there is the possibility to open new schools across the county over the next 15 plus years, with the need for both new primary and new secondary schools expected
Early Years Sufficiency & Business Support team
We make sure there are sufficient early years and childcare places for children aged 0–14 (or up to 18 for disabled children). This means we support schools, childminders and private, voluntary and independent settings to set up and expand provision. The team includes Early Years Business Support Officers who can advise on business planning and making your provision financially viable, and the Early Years Funding Officers who administer the payments.
Thirty Hours Childcare
You will probably know that 30 Hours funded childcare is being introduced from this September for eligible families with three and four year olds.
In Warwickshire, we already have a number of schools who are interested in being part of this offer, either by delivering these places directly themselves, or by working in partnership with another setting or local childminder. For example, you may have children attending your nursery class for either a morning or afternoon session – some of these children may be entitled to 30 Hours per week instead of the standard 15 hours, and you could share the hours with another provider.
We will be organising sessions for schools in the autumn term so that you can get some more information.
We have sent all schools with nursery classes a 30 Hours Update Newsletter (with a picture of our friendly 30 Hours caterpillar) in the last few days – please look out for this as it contains up to date information for those of you who will be starting to deliver the offer in September. Please note that if parents wish to access their 30 Hours place in September, they need to apply and have their eligibility confirmed now – they cannot wait until September. They can apply online at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
Decisions about eligibility are made by HMRC who administer the application process, and they can be contacted on 0300 123 4097. The Early Years Funding Team will deal with the payments for the additional hours, and the Business Support Officers will help with queries around how to structure sessions and plan for delivery. You can contact them at schools30hours@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Marle Hall
A communication was sent out last autumn from the Access and Organisation team with in depth information about Marle Hall which was received by all schools; so this is just a recap to remind schools of this fantastic outdoor learning facility that is available to them.
Marle Hall is Warwickshire County Council’s residential outdoor education centre situated near Llandudno on the North Wales coast, on the edge of the Snowdonia National park. The Centre is set within 35 acres of woodland.
Marle Hall is open all year round, offering outdoor activities including: canoeing; kayaking; rock climbing; abseiling; mountain walking; gorge walking; camping expeditions; orienteering/navigation; underground mine exploration; raft building; bushcraft; high and low ropes courses; initiative/team building exercises; sea level traversing; coasteering; environmental studies, including town, mountain and coastal studies (KS2, John Muir Award, GCSE, A Level).
Their website is currently being updated but please follow the link to their existing website to get in touch or find out more information: www.marlehall.co.uk/
Child employment
All children between the age of 13 and 16 who have a part time job must be registered with the LA in which they work. The employer is responsible for completing a work permit for each child they employ. Children can work but they are restricted on the type of work they can undertake and the hours that they can work. If they are not registered it is illegal employment and they will not be covered on the employers insurance if they were to have an accident. We can stop a child from working if the work is affecting their health, welfare or ability to take advantage of their education. Checks are made on employers who employ children and advice and guidance given on the employment of children.
A child is employed if he/she assists in any trade or occupation carried on for profit whether or not the child receives pay or reward. It also applies if the parent is the employer.
Employers must complete a permit application within seven days of employing a child, more permits are generally issued during the school holidays as children can work more hours whilst not in school.
It is the employer who is responsible for completing and submitting the work permit. For more information including hours children can work go to: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childemployment
Children in entertainment
All children from birth and 16 who take part in performances, filming, modelling or paid sport must have a licence issued by the LA in which they live, unless they are exempt.
It is recognised that taking part in performances can be an important part of a child’s education for life, however we cannot grant a licence unless we are satisfied that the child is fit to do so, that proper provision has been made to secure health and kind treatment and that their education will not suffer by taking part in the performance.
We issue licences for children to take part in amateur dramatics to West End shows. We issue the licence once we have undertaken checks to ensure the child is working within the law. All licensed children have to be looked after by a chaperone or their own parent at all times, whilst taking part in a performance. We approve chaperones and they all have enhanced DBS checks, social care checks and have to attend an interview if they are a new chaperone. They also need to undertake safeguarding training. Chaperones are then approved for a three year period.
We offer training for our chaperones in conjunction with Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell Council. Warwickshire are part of a network called NNCEE – National Network of Child Employment and Children in Entertainment, this is made up most of local authority staff but agencies can also join.
It is the applicant who is responsible for applying for the licence. For more information including the hours children can take part in entertainment go to: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childentertainment
Pupil and Student Services
Introduction
I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to Pupil & Student Services.
Our function provides information and advice to Warwickshire parents and carers on School Admissions, Home to School Transport and Free Schools Meals Eligibility. We are open through the year and only close for bank holidays. In the last academic year we have taken over c 60,000 calls to our service this excludes any direct calls made to officers and answered c 50,000 emails.
We also offer support and advice to schools and colleges and offer facilities to carry out administrative processes on behalf of educational settings.
Please take the time to read the information provided and feel free to contact us to discuss further.
Admissions process for entry into Reception, Year 3 Junior transfer and Year 7 Secondary transfer - September 2018
Secondary Transfers – September 2018 entry
The coordinated admissions process, for entry into Year 7 in September 2018, is now underway. Parents can apply for secondary school places online using the Warwickshire Parent Portal: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/admissions
Parents must only submit one application and this needs to be through their home authority, naming all of the schools they are interested in applying for on that one application. This includes any grammar school choices they may be interested in and schools across other counties, but does not include schools in the independent sector. If a parent wishes to enquire, and/or apply, for a private school then they are advised to contact that school for further information about their independent admissions process.
The national closing date for secondary school applications to be submitted is Tuesday 31 October 2017 (5pm). Applications made after this date may be classed as late and will not then be considered for places until after national offer day – 01 March 2018. We would therefore encourage all primary and junior schools within the county to reiterate this deadline to families, and assist parents with completing their application for a secondary school place, if it is felt that this may be required in certain cases.
Starting school in Reception and Year 3 Junior Transfers – September 2018 entry
The coordinated admissions process, for those due to start school in Reception, or those transferring to Year 3 as part of the coordinated scheme, is due to commence in September 2017. Again, parents will be able to apply for school places online (from September) using the Warwickshire Parent Portal: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/admissions
However, the Junior transfer process will only be applicable to those children who currently attend a Warwickshire Infant school. Children who attend a Primary school will not be eligible to apply for a Junior school place as part of the coordinated admissions scheme as Year 3 is not a normal point of entry for Primary schools. Further information about this process can be found in the Warwickshire County Council Admission Arrangements for 2018 entry, accessible on our website at: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/admissions
Parents must only submit one application per child and this needs to be done through their home authority, naming all of the schools they are interested in applying for on that one application. This includes any schools which they may wish to apply for across other counties, but does not include schools in the independent sector. If a parent wishes to enquire, and/or apply, for a private school then they are advised to contact that school for further information about their independent admissions process.
The national closing date for school applications for entry into Reception and Year 3 transfers to be submitted is Monday 15 January 2018 (5pm). Applications made after this date may be classed as late and will not then be considered for places until after national offer day – 16 April 2018. We would therefore encourage all infant schools, nurseries and other pre-school childcare providers within the county to reiterate this deadline to families, and assist parents with completing their application for a school place, if it is felt that this may be required in certain cases.
Deferred Entry Requests
Where a child has requested deferred entry for September 2018 (ie: those who were chronologically due to start school in September 2017), and this request has been approved by both the Local Authority and the schools concerned through the formal deferment request process, families have been advised that they must follow the admissions process in relation to the coordinated scheme for Reception entry in September 2018.
From September, schools may also begin to receive deferment requests from families where the child is chronologically due to start school in Reception in September 2018. Please refer these families to the guidance available on our website, where a copy of the formal deferment request form can also be found: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/startingschool
The deadline for families to submit their deferment request form, in order for their request to be considered in line with the coordinated scheme, is 01 December 2017.
General Information
Parents should be aware that different authorities offer a different maximum number of choices which can be named on the application for a school place. Warwickshire residents can name up to six school choices on their application, but they do not have to use all 6 if they do not wish to apply for that many schools. However, we would advise naming more than just one choice, and would also recommend that families name their catchment school as one of their choices as if they do not, and none of their other school choices can be offered, then there is no guarantee that they will then be offered their closest/catchment school.
Different deadlines apply where a family is moving house. These are detailed in the admissions process timetable below. Families should be aware that documentary evidence of any new address must be submitted to the Admissions Service by the relevant deadlines. We would also strongly advise that parents consult the admission arrangements for the schools they are interested in applying for, as individual schools may have additional arrangements relating to house moves. This will also be the case for some schools who require additional information to support an application, for example, schools who allocate oversubscription criteria based on faith.
Further information about the 2018 entry admission arrangements for individual schools can be found on the following website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoollacriteria
Timetable and Important Dates
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ALL SCHOOLS
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SECONDARY 2018
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11+ 2018
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PRI / INF / JUN 2018
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May onwards
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Information posted out to Warwickshire residents regarding the admissions process for Secondary school entry – September 2018
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07 July
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Deadline for registering for the 2018 entry Warwickshire 11+ Selection Test
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from 01 September
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Information posted out to Warwickshire residents regarding the admissions process for Reception and Junior transfer (where the child attends a Warwickshire Infant school) – September 2018 entry.
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09 September
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Main test date for the 11+ test
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06 October
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First reminder to families where no secondary school application has been received
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w/c: 16 October
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11+ results will be published to families
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20 October
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Second reminder to families where no secondary school application has been received
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31 October
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National Closing Date for on time secondary school applications, for entry in September 2018
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10 November
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Data exchanges with other authorities commence – Secondary school applications
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w/c 20 November
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Secondary school applications will be made available to schools who purchase the School Admissions Service for Coordination – ie: SAM, distances, criteria allocation.
Faith schools to commence allocation of criteria and ALL SCHOOLS (secondary) to begin sibling checks
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01 December
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Deadline for requesting deferred entry, for those chronologically due to start school in Reception in September 2018
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15 December
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Reminder to families where no school application has been received – Reception and Junior transfer – September 2018 entry
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29 December
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Deadline for proof of address to be submitted in respect of grammar schools and in respect of any other secondary school application where a house move has taken place since 31 October 2017
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08 January 2018
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Own admission authority secondary schools to have completed allocation of criteria (where this is required) and ALL SCHOOLS (secondary) to have completed sibling checks.
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15 January 2018
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National Closing Date for on time school applications - Reception and Junior transfer – September 2018 entry
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w/c 22 January 2018
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Data exchanges with other authorities commence – Reception and Junior transfer applications
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w/c 05 February 2018
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Provisional secondary school offers available to secondary schools
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05 February 2018
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Reception and Junior transfer applications will be made available to schools who purchase the School Admissions Service for Coordination – ie: SAM, distances, criteria allocation.
Faith schools to commence allocation of criteria and ALL SCHOOLS (Primary, Infant and Junior) to begin sibling checks
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12 February 2018
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Own admission authority schools to have completed allocation of criteria (where this is required) and ALL SCHOOLS (Primary, Infant and Junior) to have completed sibling checks.
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14 February 2018
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Warwickshire Admissions and SENDAR teams to liaise and confirm school offers based on EHC Plans
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26 February 2018
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Deadline for proof of address to be submitted in respect of school applications (Primary, Infant and Junior) where a house move has taken place since 15 January 2018
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01 March 2018
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National Offer Day for Secondary – September 2018 entry
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19 March 2018
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Provisional offers available to Primary, Infant and Junior schools
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Monday 16 April 2018
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National Offer Day for Reception and Junior transfer – September 2018 entry
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Monday 19 March 2018
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Reallocation commences – Secondary transfer – September 2018 entry
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May 2018
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Secondary transfer appeals commence, including grammar schools
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Monday 14 May 2018
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Reallocation commences – Reception and Junior transfer – September 2018 entry
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June 2018
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Primary, Infant and Junior transfer appeals commence
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Monday 04 June 2018
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In-year applications (all schools) can be submitted, for September 2018 start dates. Places will be allocated from Monday 11 June 2018
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11+ process for entry in September 2018
The 11+ testing process, for consideration for Year 7 entry into one of Warwickshire’s six selective schools in September 2018, is now underway. Over 2000 families have registered their child to sit the test with us this year, with the main testing session scheduled to take place on the morning of Saturday 9 September 2017.
Candidates will sit two test papers on the same morning, each lasting just over an hour. Each paper will contain a mixture of Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning questions.
Information regarding venue details, times, what to bring, etc. will be sent to candidates at least two weeks prior to the test day. They will also need to have a photograph of the child validated: we would be grateful if current class/head teachers could assist with this.
Where candidates have requested access arrangements – due to medical issues or special educational needs – these have now been considered by a specialist panel and parents will now be notified of which provisions, if any, will be put in place for their child for this year’s Warwickshire 11+ test. Please bear in mind that the access arrangements which will be put in place for 11+ testing may not necessarily correlate with any provisions which the child receives in school on a regular basis, or with any special testing arrangements which schools may be considering for the end of Key Stage 2 assessments. This is because the SATs papers and the 11+ test are very different and are not comparable in format, style or content.
Schools are reminded that no tutoring or coaching is required for the Warwickshire 11+ tests, and no practice papers or past papers are made available. The testing is designed to assess a child’s innate ability and, thus, cannot be prepared for.
Results from the 11+ testing will be sent out to families in mid-October. This will be via email, in most cases. An offer of a grammar school place is not made at that stage, and there is no guarantee that a grammar school offer will be made on national offer day in March, regardless of the score achieved by the child in the 11+ test. However, parents should be able to use the information which we will provide to them at that time to assess whether they would like to name one (or more) of the grammar schools on the secondary school application. Please note that the test results will not be distributed to primary and junior schools.
Parents must submit one application only to their home authority, naming all of the schools they are interested in applying for on that one application. This includes any grammar school choices they may be interested in, but does not include schools in the independent sector. If a parent wishes to enquire, and/or apply, for a private school then they are advised to contact that school for further information about their independent admissions process.
Parents should also be aware that different authorities offer a different maximum number of choices which can be named on the application for a school place. Warwickshire residents can name up to six school choices on their application, but they do not have to use all 6 if they do not wish to apply for that many schools. However, we would advise naming more than just one choice, and would also recommend that families name their catchment school as one of their choices as if they do not, and none of their other school choices can be offered, then there is no guarantee that they will then be offered their closest/catchment school.
The national closing date for secondary school applications to be submitted is Tuesday 31 October 2017 (5pm). Applications made after this date may be classed as late and will not then be considered for places until after national offer day – 1 March 2018. We would therefore encourage all primary and junior schools within the county to reiterate this deadline to families, and assist parents with completing their application for a secondary school place, if it is felt that this may be required in certain cases.
Requesting deferred entry to start school in Reception and requesting for a child to be educated outside of their chronological year group
All schools should now have received an email which contains website links to the process which parents should follow when making a request for their child to be educated outside of their chronological year group, or where a family is requesting deferred entry into Reception due to the child being ‘summer-born’. The links refer to specific Guidance and a formal Request Form. These can be found on the following website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/startingprimaryschool
The Government has previously issued a White Paper in respect of such requests and, as a Local Authority, we expect formal legislation to be passed through Government on this particular matter in due course.
It is also the intention of the Local Authority to begin a consultation process which will formalise the current ‘Guidance’ into a formal policy, which we will then ask all schools to comply with as part of both the co-ordinated admissions process for transfer year groups, as well as in-year admissions.
Schools may be contacted in respect of such requests as part of the formal request form advises the parent to make contact with their preferred schools and gain consent from that school to confirm that they would be happy to accept a child who is asking to be admitted outside of their chronological year group, if a place could be offered as part of the normal admissions procedure. Parents are informed throughout the process that a place is not guaranteed at any of their preferred schools, even if the school agrees to a request for deferment.
If schools have any queries about this process, or would like further advice about any particular requests, then they should contact either: Amy Taylor - 01926 742038 or Collette Naven-Jones - 01926 742055.
Consultation on Admission Arrangement s for entry in September 2018
The consultation period for the Warwickshire County Council Admission Arrangements, for entry in September 2018, has now ended. Any comments will now be looked at and considered and the final, determined, arrangements will be published by the required deadline of 28 February 2017.
Where a school is its own admission authority, and currently still going through a consultation period, you are reminded that this must be completed by 31 January. All schools must then publish their determined arrangements for 2018 entry – whether these have been consulted on or not – by the deadline as set out in the Code of 28 February 2017.
Determined arrangements should be clearly visible on both the school’s own website and on the relevant WCC website pages.
In-Year Admissions and Fair Access
In-Year Admission refers to any change of school which happens outside of the coordinated scheme, so applies from Reception (once they have been in school from the September following the offer), through to Year 11 and happen throughout the Academic Year.
In this current academic year so far we have processed 3944 applications including 784 requesting a new school place for September 2017. Most of these are for children moving into the area. Over the last 3 months the In Year Team has received 4082 calls and around 50 emails a day through the main Admissions line and email inbox, this does not included calls taken on direct lines and individual emails.
This academic year saw a change in our processes whereby we send across a cover sheet to schools which asks for a more detailed response including current numbers on roll in the year group requested, and if a school is refusing a place, whether it is because the year group is full or because they consider the application to fall under the Fair Access Protocol. If the application is considered to be FAP then schools must detail which criteria the child falls under and then this is verified once the form is received back into the In-Year team.
We also introduced an escalation system whereby if schools do not respond within the 7 day timescale then a letter is sent to the Head Teacher for escalation, this is to ensure we stay within the 10 day turnaround for placing students who apply for an in-year transfer. Some schools respond almost immediately and there is a good rapport and working relationship between the school and the admissions officer responsible for that area, however, some schools do need to be chased several times for a response and this obviously leads to applications going over this timeframe.
We encourage schools to return the form as soon as possible either so that we can process it with the next preference listed on the application if the first school is full, or to start the process of placing through the Fair Access Protocol.
The In-Year Team also deals with placement of all permanently excluded children, with a dedicated officer for Primary Fair Access placements, including PEX students. These obviously take longer to process as they involve meetings with the school and other agency involvement to ensure the right placement of a child back into mainstream school. There have been around 150 Fair Access placements so far this year across all year groups. We are working on more informative ways to report on in-year movement and also Fair Access placements so that schools will not only be aware of how many students they have taken, but also their neighbouring schools.
Exclusions
In April 2017, Exclusions were relocated to the Admissions team. Nikki Daly, Jessica Waterhouse & Claire Thornicroft are now dealing with queries from schools and parents and with the recording of exclusion data.
“We are focussing on providing accurate, up-to-date advice to schools and parents as well as aiming to reduce the number of permanent exclusions in Warwickshire”
Since April, the Exclusions team have been notified of 14 permanent exclusions of Warwickshire children.
The team are working with schools around the County to provide advice and support. As well as aiming to reduce the number of permanent exclusions, the team will be challenging and reporting schools found to be issuing unlawful exclusions. There is a guide to unlawful exclusions below, as well as a refresher on making a decision to permanently exclude.
There is work underway to implement a more efficient way of recording exclusions data through the Synergy system, this is due to go live in September.
The DFE have recently consulted on new exclusions guidelines to be published later this year. Whilst there are no significant changes, the new guidelines will clarify certain aspects of the process. The consultation has now closed, but schools can still view the proposed guidance document on the following website: https://consult.education.gov.uk/school-absence-and-exclusions-team/statutory-exclusion-guidance/
It is important to remember that Ofsted will consider exclusions during a school inspection, please take the time to familiarise yourself with the Ofsted document ‘Schools Use of Exclusion’.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-use-of-exclusion
Contact Exclusions
Phone: 01926 738353
Email: exclusions@warwickshire.gov.uk
What is an unlawful exclusion?
There are only two types of exclusion which are lawful: permanent and fixed-period. Anything else is unlawful.
Any exclusion of a pupil, even for a short period of time, must be formally recorded and only the Headteacher of a school can exclude a pupil.
Unlawful exclusions could include:
- Sending a pupil home to “cool-off”
- Encouraging a parent to sign a document stating that their child will be 'home educated' and taken off the school roll
- Requesting that a pupil be collected early
- Putting pressure on a parent to withdraw a child from a school under threat of permanent exclusion
- Reducing a pupil’s timetable “to prevent exclusion”
- Simply telling a pupil not to return to the school
- Placing a child in an alternative provision schedule during their GCSE year
If a school is found to be excluding informally/unlawfully, the Exclusions team will take steps to report the school in question to higher authorities.
Taking the decision to permanently exclude
A decision to exclude a pupil permanently should only be taken:
- in response to a serious breach, or persistent breaches, of the school's behaviour policy; and
- where allowing the pupil to remain in school would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school.
Headteachers should, as far as is possible, avoid excluding permanently any pupil with an EHCP or who is Looked After and should consider what additional support is necessary for those more at risk of exclusion:
- Pupils with SEN;
- Pupils eligible for Free School Meals;
- Looked After Children; and
- Pupils from certain ethnic groups
There are teams within Warwickshire County Council who can help schools with challenging pupils. It is important to explore all options before taking the decision to permanently exclude; if you’re unsure what help is available call the Exclusions team for advice.
If a permanent exclusion is given, Headteachers must complete the LIF and send to the Exclusions team on the same day that the decision is taken.
Transport & FSM
The Education Transport Team is made up of Beckie Love, Sarah Clarke and Lindsay Stanford; we work closely with Nikki Daly, Lead Officer for Education Transport and Appeals and Claire Thornicroft, SEN Funding Officer and colleagues from Transport Operations in Barrack Street.
The team support parents and schools regarding eligibility for Free School Meals. We provide advice to parents/carers on eligibility requirements and we also support schools in updating information so they can access Pupil Premium for their school. Currently we have 7000 children who are in receipt of the Pupil Premium.
We assess eligibility and provide transport for around 6000 entitled mainstream entitled travellers, 2000 mainstream paying travellers and 1500 students with a statement or EHCP both over and under 16 across the whole of Warwickshire every year.
We provide transport for those who are entitled to free transport assistance due to meeting the criteria as defined by the DfE and transport for those who are not eligible under the paid Vacant Seat Scheme, these travellers help to assist towards the cost of running our Warwickshire County Council services and ensure that we maintain an easily accessible network or transport for students across the county and even those coming from over the boarders.
We are currently taking applications for all types of transport for September 2017 so if you have a family that you know needs to apply for transport please provide them our contact details below:
Education Transport
Saltisford Office Park
Ansell Way
Warwick
CV34 4UL
Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schooltravel
Email: educationtransport@warwickshire.gov.uk
Phone: 01926 412929 (Option 1, Option 1)
Systems Update
Within Pupil and Student Services, we are continually looking to improve our service to the families of Warwickshire and beyond.
2017 has seen the introduction of online application for the 11+ test on the same platform as applying for a school place.
We have also worked hard to create one data base of our children's information for our council creating a system used currently by the Family Information Service, Early Years Team and Admissions. We are also planning for this system to be used by our SEN Team and other related teams within our Education Service.
We are looking to enhance our on line application system (parent portal) looking at Free School Meals and Transport Modules. This will enable parents to log into one account for their family and apply for a variety of services including applying for Nursery Funding. We will keep you posted!
To date we have received 1402 applications for starting Secondary School in 2018 and 2115 registrations for the 11+test!
We go ‘Live’ on 1st September 2017 for children starting Junior and Reception schools with all parents of children in Warwickshire receiving a letter and leaflet on how to apply. Spread the word, all parents/carers need to have applied by 31st October 2017 for a Secondary School and 15th January 2018 for Reception and Junior Schools!
For children starting school this September we have helped;
- 1425 children obtain places on the Junior Round
- 6574 children obtain places on the Reception Round
- 6596 children obtain places on the Secondary Round
We are still processing applications all the time helping families moving into the area or who have applied past the closing date.
We are an extremely busy service and our help line in the last 3 months received 17,414 calls!!
We received over 7500 emails in the last 3 months - an average of 84 emails a day into our main admissions Inbox!