The admitting authority is the Local Authority so all requests for a place must be made through Essex County Council’s Special Educational Needs Department as part of the EHCP process or review of the EHCP.

Market Field School is a special school that caters for children and young people aged rising 5 to 16, all of whom have moderate and complex learning difficulties. Following a statutory assessment, the local authority will make a judgement as to where the needs of a child with special educational needs can be met. If the criteria for moderate learning difficulties provide the best fit, then Market Field School may be consulted and a request for admission made.

The school will consider the consultation paperwork to ensure it is an appropriate referral and that we can meet the needs within our defined provision. It is expected that parents/carers will have visited the school to understand the provision being offered and the context of the school and most importantly to help them decide whether Market Field can provide the specialist provision that is right for their child. Market Field School provides a curriculum and specialist provision designed for children and young people with a range of moderate and complex learning difficulties, for which it is provided with an identified level of funding by the local authority. The school is not intended for pupils with other categories of difficulty.

 In considering a referral, the Headteacher, on behalf of the Governing Body will decide firstly whether or not it is educationally appropriate and secondly when the young person can be admitted based on the capacity within the school. The school is currently over capacity, with 370 students, which is over our published admissions number of 290. All class sizes are significantly higher than BB104 guidance, with classes on our Learning to Know pathway having 16 children in.

Once we have notified Statutory Assessment Service at Essex County Council to say that a school place is being offered, we work closely with parents/carers and existing setting (if appropriate) to ensure a smooth transition into the school.