Medical, social and welfare criterion for school admissions

If you consider your child to have a medical, social or welfare need please note that not all schools or academies have a medical, social and welfare criterion within their admission policy.

This can only be applied where it is part of the determined policy for a particular school or academy. (Please refer to the admissions policy for your preferred schools).

If you feel that there are exceptional medical, social or welfare reasons associated with your child and/or family which support admission to a particular school you must indicate that this is the case on your application.

These may include serious medical or psychological needs or disabilities which make travel more difficult. Pupils with special educational needs (without an education, health and care (EHC) plan) may be admitted under this criteria.

Please bear in mind that all schools and academies can make provision for special educational needs, and can also manage common conditions eg asthma, epilepsy, diabetes.

Supporting evidence from a professional, for example, a doctor, psychologist, or social worker, is essential if admission is to be made under the criterion for special medical or social circumstances, and such evidence must set out the particular reasons why the school in question is the only school where these needs can be met and the difficulties which would be caused if the child had to attend another school.

Where exceptional medical, social or welfare reasons are identified supporting evidence will be required.

This may be from whatever sources you feel are most appropriate. Examples of providers of evidence are doctors, health visitors, social workers. Only exceptional reasons relevant to a particular school will normally be considered.

If you do not provide supporting evidence then it will not be possible to consider the application under the medical, social and welfare criterion.

Parents may apply for places and send supporting evidence at a later date. It is strongly recommended that this is submitted by the closing date for applications. After the closing date, during the early stages of the allocation process, all claims of exceptional medical, social and welfare reasons are considered separately by senior officers of the Local Authority or the Governing Bodies. This will involve considering all information and evidence provided by parents. It may also be necessary to contact parents and third parties in order to obtain further information where this is needed to reach a decision. The focus of the assessment of each medical, social and welfare claim will be linked to the claimed reasons for the pupil to attend a specific school. Where the reasons claimed are not considered exceptional then the application will be dealt with under the other admission criteria for the school(s) requested.

All information which is submitted will be considered as being confidential.

Where this criterion is applied it does not confer any rights to assistance with home to school transport.