Archdale School

Admission Arrangements

To apply for a school place at Archdale School you must contact Sheffield City Council using the link here.

Archdale School provides education for children with severe and complex learning difficulties and disabilities. Many of our pupils have additional needs in the areas of mobility and physical development, vision, hearing, communication and some children may have  related Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

Children gain placements at Archdale School by Sheffield Children and Young People’s Directorate (SEN Department) after careful assessment of their educational needs. Parents/carers must be involved and their views taken into account at every stage. Initial referral for special education may come from parents, family doctor, paediatrician, Headteacher or educational psychologist. Post-five pupils, who usually already have a statement of special educational need or EHC plan, are sometimes also transferred from other special schools or mainstream schools.

A visit to Archdale School is arranged for parents/carers and child before a decision is made about school placement. Some parents/carers choose to visit on their own; others prefer to come with a portage worker, parent partnership, family member or other professionals they are involved with.

When the decision that the child is to be admitted to Archdale has been made, further visits are encouraged to discuss with us the child’s needs, arrangements for transport, school meals and other practical matters. Staff also visit the child if they have a placement e.g. at another nursery, or school which provides an opportunity for liaison with the professionals working with the child. A home visit before admission is also organised. Specialist staff working at Archdale e.g. physiotherapist, occupational therapist are informed and do home visits if the child requires special equipment for use in school.

An interview with the new parents/carers is arranged either before admission, or on a child’s first day, to discuss their child in detail and an Admission Form is completed. These details are distributed to all the staff who will be involved with the child. The statutory admissions register is also completed and the child is entered into the school database.

We offer a flexible approach to settling new children in to school; some parents/carers wish to send their child in on there own from the first day, other parents/carers wish to come in and settle their child. Either approach is acceptable to us. Our main aim is to ensure that parents/carers feel that their child is well cared for and is happy in our school.

 Please click here for the Admissions policy: Admissions Policy 2023

Nursery Stage

We take children from the term before they turn 3 not the term after they are 4. Nursery children are allocated a 15 hour placement unless they are entitled to 30 hours provision. A home visit will take place however the visit might not be by the class teacher.

Foundation Stage

Pupils can be admitted from the academic year they turn four. Children are entitled to a maximum of 15 hours per week. This can be taken in full or half day sessions. In the academic year that a child reaches 5 they will be offered a full time place.

Prior to admission a home visit is arranged in order to gather essential information about the child and to fill in the admissions form. This will be carried out by the class teacher and the key worker.