You may find the following information useful:
A Guide to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities for parents and carers, summing up the new Code of Practice:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers
Medway's Local Offer
Admissions to Blue Skies
Our Values
We believe it is important for students to achieve their full potential and progress to a future of their choice. To ensure this, we offer a rich and stimulating curriculum, individually tailored to our student’s needs, supported by strong pastoral care, social and emotional support and various therapies.
Student Starting points
Blue Skies acknowledges that every learner is different, not only with personal interest, but also retained knowledge and skills. At Blue Skies, following a transition period, students are assessed and assigned to an appropriate peer group with a predicted flight path (expected outcomes by the end of each Key Stage). These are regularly reviewed and include personalised learning targets through Person Centered Annual Reviews (PCARs).
Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 8, with many classes around 5 students with two supporting adults (one teacher and one teaching assistant). Class groupings are not linear (i.e. with peers in the same year group), we place students with pupils with similar interest and dynamic where possible; developing the overall wellbeing of an individual empowers them to thrive socially and academically. Practical tasks to see the relevance and application of study to real life situations, developing students' understanding of the world, being able to understand themselves and how they can become fully functioning citizens; utilising their skills in the future.
Admissions Process
All students attending Blue Skies must hold a current Education and Healthcare Plan (EHCP) from their respective local authority. Our cohort consist of Medway and Kent children and young people, with a Primary Need of Autism.
Many of our students have experienced an unsettled period of education within mainstream education, and required a smaller bespoke setting to meet their needs.
If you are considering applying for Blue Skies, please liaise with the Education Authority to send us the current EHCP before arranging a tour with the school. Tours are currently hosted either face-to-face or virtually after school hours.
Following the school screening the paperwork issued by the local authority, an Observation and Assessment Day will be organised. This includes time with students in school, both socially and within a variety of lessons throughout the morning. A decision on whether a placement is suitable will be shared with the Local authority following this assessment. Times are usually from 9.15 - 12.10.