Independent and Non-maintained Special Schools

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Independent schools are usually privately run for profit. Non-maintained schools are usually managed by charitable organisations and are not profit-making. Neither are maintained/overseen by local authorities.

Most children with an education health and care plan or a statement of special educational needs will be able to go to a local mainstream schools or special schools maintained by the local authority.

Where children or young people have an Education, Health and Care Plan or a Statement of Special Educational Needs, it is a key aim of Hackney Local Authority that wherever possible, their needs are met locally, thereby enabling the majority to remain with their families.

Local school placements will always be investigated as a matter of course, prior to the consideration of an independent, or non- maintained special school that is outside of the local authority.

The local authority will therefore only in exceptional circumstances agree to offer to place in a local independent or non-maintained special school if there are no suitable places in a local maintained special school and:


• if the school is suitable for the child’s special educational needs,
• if the head teacher agrees to offer a place 
• if the placement is an efficient use of public money


If so, the school is named on the child’s education health and care plan or statement and the local authority will fund the placement.

Find out more: Independent schools approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act

Types of independent and non-maintained schools and settings used by Hackney Local Authority:

 

 Type of need

 Type of school or setting

 Reasons for placement

 

 School

 

 

 Specific literacy difficulties

 

Day special school

 

 No suitable place in local maintained  school

Fairley House School

Severe Learning Difficulties

Day special school

 No suitable place in a local maintained school.

Kisharon Day School

 

Severe Learning Difficulties

Day special school 

 

Where parents choose to place their child in an Independent Day School Hackney Learning Trust may support the placement by providing funds for special provision specific  to the child’s needs identified in their Education Health and Care Plan (previously statement of SEN)

Side by Side Kids  School

ASD and associated behavioural difficulties but not severe learning difficulties.

Day special school

Where the pupil needs specialist provision but would not have a suitable peer group in a local special school

 Eagle House School  Sutton

 

SEMH

ASD

Day special school

Children whose emotional and behavioural needs prevent attendance at a local maintained school

East London  Independent School

 

ASD and severe behavioural difficulties

Day special school

Education for young people aged up to 19 with autism who have been referred by their local authority.

In Hackney this is mostly for Post 16 provision

 Sybil Elgar School

 

Medical Conditions e.g. Epilepsy

Residential School

 A non-maintained special school for pupils aged up to 19. children with neurological conditions and related behavioural difficulties 

St Piers – Young  Epilepsy

 

SEMH (Social, emotional and mental health)  needs

 Day special school

 

Children whose emotional and behavioural needs prevent attendance at a local maintained    school

 Leaways School

 

Various needs

 Independent day  schools, (not special) 

 

Where parents choose to place their child in an Independent Day School Hackney Learning Trust may support the placement by providing funds for special provision specific  to the child’s needs identified in their Education Health and Care Plan (previously statement of SEN)

Independent School

 

Children with severe learning difficulties and  associated behavioural difficulties

 

 Residential special school.

 

Due a child’s level of behaviour that challenges at home, specialist boarding provision has been agreed to be necessary.

 

 Kisimul School

 

Children with acute medical conditions and  acquired severe injuries

 Residential special  school

No local maintained day special school that is suitable. Specialist health provision needed throughout the day.

The School for Profound Education

 

 

 

  Autism and associated   behavioural difficulties

Residential special schools

 No local maintained day special  school that is suitable

Grateley House School

Hope View School

LVS Hassocks

Purbeck View  School

Sheiling School

Sheridan House Thetford

Treehouse School

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Page last modified: 09/10/2023