Admissions

At New Siblands School we understand how important it is to make sure parents, carers and the referring authority have all the information they need in order to make the right decision regarding a school placement. Choosing the right placement can be a difficult and daunting process and we hope to make this as easy and as quick as possible.

Enable Trust Admissions Statement 

Admissions Criteria

New Siblands is a special school that provides a high quality and holistic education for 125 pupils with severe, profund and multiple learning difficulties aged 2-19 in South Gloucestershire. We also currently admit some pupils placed here by other Local Authorities.

 A child or young person is eligible for a place at New Siblands School if they meet the following criteria:

• They have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
• They have a severe learning difficulty (SLD) or profound and multiple learning disability (PMLD).
• In addition to their SLD or PMLD, they may have an autistic spectrum condition, or a physical or sensory disability.
• The needs of the learner could be met with our resources without adversely affecting any other learner that currently attends.
• Their needs are significant and affect most areas of their learning. In order for our bespoke curriculum to meet their needs, all of our pupils are working well below  age-related expectations.

 While our holistic curriculum is designed to meet the general social,  emotional and mental health needs of all pupils, the school does not make provision for children and young people whose specific, primary Special Educational Need is Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

Visits from parents are recommended in order to help determine whether New Siblands School would meet the needs of their child.  We provide school tours each term (six times per year).  See below for information regarding this. 

If you believe that your child's needs can be met at our school - and there is an ECHP in place - please contact your Local Authority, who will consult with us.

Admissions to New Siblands are via South Gloucestershire 0-25 panel, who meet weekly to look at children’s EHCP, review documentation and recommend where their needs might be best met. Prospective parents/carers should liaise with their child’s current setting regarding  the timing of review meetings. New Siblands is regularly oversubscribed, so requests for placements need to be made via the local authority.

 For South Gloucestershire Local Authority, information is available here.  Parents of children or young people who live in other Local Authorities should contact their local team for support and advice.

Tour Dates

The school will run one group tour for parent and carers (no pupils) per term, starting from September 2024. These can be booked using enquiries@newsiblands.org.uk