Oakley School works collaboratively with the Local Authority within the district to meet the needs of children and young people who have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP).  However, it is the Local Authority who has the statutory responsibility for arranging provision for children and young people with Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs).  For more information about the KCC Local Offer, please click here.

An explanation of the process of applying for a school place is available through the local authority and details are on their website: www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places

There are admissions criteria for each special school that are applied in order to determine if a particular special school would be a suitable placement. A link to the admissions criteria for Kent special schools is as follows but our buildings present accessibility issues which means that unfortunately we cannot admit pupils with profound learning difficulties.

The named officer in the relevant Area Education Office explains the arrangements for admission to parents and carers as part of the statutory assessment process or as part of any school transition process but further advice is available directly from the Area Offices:  

Most of our pupils move through the school on our Tunbridge Wells site and transfer to our Tonbridge site at the end of Year 10 to join Phase 4.  Some children and young people may also join us from mainstream or other special schools at Year 7 and some young people join Oakley for just Phase 4. Our classes are organised by children and young people's learning needs within our Phases. All pupils must have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to join Oakley School.