Admissions at Dunstable

Admissions for Larwood School – Beech Road are overseen by Central Bedfordshire Council, which serves as the admissions authority – particularly for special schools and Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) settings. Central Bedfordshire’s policy places pupils in the setting closest to their home able to meet their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) needs.

Referral and Decision-Making Process

1. Initial Referral is made by the Local Authority’s SEND or Admissions Team under the SEND code of practice.

2. A paper-based review of the referral and EHCP is conducted by the Central Bedfordshire Admissions Team in consultation with Larwood School.

3. Pre-visit Meeting: Families and pupils are invited to Larwood for an introductory meeting to discuss the school’s ethos, expectations, and behaviour support approach.

An admission is confirmed only if:

• The child’s EHCP can be met safely and effectively,

• The family and school agree it is the right placement, and

• The pupil demonstrates a willingness and capacity to engage with support and behaviour strategies.

Local Authority Coordination & Appeals

• Referrals for SEMH and other needs follow the Central Bedfordshire SEND Local Offer and EHCP processes.

• The Council’s Admissions Team manages in-year transfers and appeals if a placement is refused.

• Parents have a statutory right to appeal under Section 39 of the Education Act 1996, and Larwood supports families in this process.

The school has a well-established admission process, which seeks to confirm the appropriateness of the initial referral. The referral documentation is reviewed and the pupil and carers are subsequently invited to the school for an initial meeting. This meeting will focus on an explanation of the school’s philosophy and approach to the management of behaviour. This will be followed by a second meeting at school, or in the family home, with our Family and Community Liaison Manager, who will gather more specific information about the pupil’s needs, presenting difficulties and background. An admission will be agreed if both the carers and the school believe that the school is best placed to meet the pupil’s needs and importantly there is an acceptance that the pupil has the capacity to choose to change his/her behaviour.