Admissions to The Bridge School

We understand that choosing the right school for your child is a very important decision. This page explains who The Bridge School is for, how admissions work, and how placement decisions are made, in a clear and supportive way.

Who We Are

The Bridge School is a specialist school for children and young people aged 4 to 18 with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD). We support pupils with significant and lifelong learning needs who need a highly structured, personalised and nurturing learning environment.

Our provision is delivered across several sites, including:

Our main school site in Ipswich
A specialist hub provision at Bramford Lane, Ipswich
Secondary provision from Year 9 in Felixstowe

All of our sites follow the same values and curriculum approach, but each has different physical spaces and capacity with an emphasis on a communication rich environment throughout.

Our provision is strengthened by additional specialist support through working collaboratively with NHS therapists and the school’s in‑house team of professionals, including an educational psychologist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapists, and a behaviour specialist.

Our Commitment to Equality and Safety

We are fully committed to:

Treating all children and families fairly and with respect
Promoting inclusion and equality
Keeping pupils and staff safe at all times

Admissions decisions are always made with your child’s safety, wellbeing and learning needs at the centre. We will always consider reasonable adjustments where possible, but we must also take account of space, staffing and safeguarding requirements.

Which Children Can Attend The Bridge School?

Children considered for a place at The Bridge School usually:

Have a primary need of Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
Have significant learning, communication and developmental needs
Require high levels of adult support
Have needs that can be met safely within our specialist provision

Many pupils may also have additional needs, such as autism, physical disabilities, sensory needs, medical needs or communication difficulties.

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

All pupils attending The Bridge School must have an EHCP.

Admissions are made through consultation with the local authority. When we are consulted, we carefully consider whether we can:

Meet the outcomes written in your child’s EHCP
Safely deliver the required support and care
Do this without negatively affecting the education or wellbeing of other pupils
That your child does not have the potential to access a mainstream curriculum
In some cases include a face to face assessment by the school team at pupils current setting, to determine suitability.

The final decision about naming The Bridge School in an EHCP is made by the local authority, informed by advice from the school.

The Admissions Process – Step by Step

A consultation request is received from the local authority
We review your child’s EHCP and professional reports
We assess site-specific capacity and risks
We may hold discussions with professionals
A visit or observation may be arranged if appropriate

Making the Final Decision

Admissions and site placement decisions are made by the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team.

We always consider:

Your views as parents or carers
The local authority’s preferences

However, our priority must always be:

Safety
Capacity
Whether the learning environment is right for your child

Transition and Starting School

If a place is offered, we carefully plan each child’s transition. This may include:

Several pre‑start visits
A gradual or part‑time start
Transition meetings with professionals
Individual planning to support emotional wellbeing

Reviewing Placements

All placements are kept under regular review. In rare situations, a placement may need to be reconsidered if:

A child’s needs change significantly
Risk levels change
Staffing or capacity changes

Any concerns or changes will always be discussed with parents/carers and the local authority.

Post‑16 Places

Places after the age of 16 are not automatic. Each application is carefully considered to decide whether The Bridge School is the best option for the young person’s next stage.

Other Post‑16 options may include:

Alternative specialist provision
Supported further education
Vocational or life‑skills programmes
Community‑based opportunities

Decisions focus on the young person’s strengths, needs, aspirations and long‑term outcomes.

Placement Across Our Different Sites

Being offered a place at The Bridge School does not guarantee a place at a specific site or hub.

Each site is considered individually, and placement decisions depend on:

The physical environment and classroom space
Accessibility and movement needs
Availability of specialist facilities
The existing group of pupils
Staffing levels and expertise at that site

A child may be suitable for one site but not another, even though all sites are part of The Bridge School.

How We Assess Safety and Capacity

Before offering a place, we carry out a detailed risk assessment, especially for hub placements. This looks at:

Space and layout of classrooms
Access to medical, care and quiet areas
Mobility and physical support needs
Sensory and emotional regulation
Behaviour, supervision and staffing ratios
Impact on other pupils and staff

A place will only be offered if we are confident that:

Risks can be safely managed
Staffing and space are appropriate
Learning and wellbeing can be supported
Safeguarding requirements are fully met

If this isn’t possible, we may advise that another specialist provision would better meet your child’s needs.

Our Specialist Hub Provision

We also run a small specialist hub provision as part of the school. This:

Supports very small numbers of pupils
Has limited physical space
Requires very careful staffing and risk management

Because of this, places in the hub are extremely limited and not suitable for every child who is appropriate for The Bridge School overall.

Need More Information?

If you would like to discuss your child’s needs or understand the admissions process further, please contact your local authority or speak to a member of The Bridge School team.

Specialist Education Settings in Suffolk

Admissions to specialist, alternative or independent schools or settings are managed by Inclusion Services and are outside the normal admission arrangements. The majority of children of statutory school age will have an EHC plan when admissions to these specialist settings are considered. If you would like more information about specialist education settings in Suffolk, you can visit the Suffolk Local Offer website at https://www.suffolklocaloffer.org.uk/, or you can talk to Suffolk Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Service at https://suffolksendiass.co.uk/.

Please contact your Family Services Team who will be able to advise and support if you have any questions about this process.

Family Services Team	Email address
South Suffolk and Ipswich	SENDSS@suffolk.gov.uk
Lowestoft and Waveney	SENDLW@suffolk.gov.uk
West Suffolk, Central Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds	SENDWS@suffolk.gov.uk

For more information please see: SENDIASS website

Appeals

Appeals will be to the First-tier Tribunal for statemented pupils. Parents whose children have special educational needs can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) against decisions made by the Local Authorities in England about their children’s education. The application forms and guidance can be found by clicking here.

Waiting lists

Not applicable.