REFERRAL PROCESS
Northstar Nurture School – pupil referral journey
Upon receiving a referral, leaders at Northstar review all the submitted paperwork to
evaluate whether the school is likely to be able meet the student’s needs.
List of paperwork requested by the school:
1. Referral Documentation from Local Authority
• ☐ Completed referral form (from LA)
• ☐ Copy of the child’s updated, final Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• ☐ Recent annual review reports
• ☐ Relevant professional reports (e.g., Educational Psychologist, CAMHS, Social Care, SaLT)
2. School’s Internal Assessment & Response
• ☐ Initial referral review summary (school’s first response/notes)
• ☐ Checklist of eligibility criteria (how the referral matches school’s provision)
• ☐ Risk assessment (initial, based on known information)
• ☐ Safeguarding information checklist
• ☐ Record of contact with current/previous school
3. Supporting Documents
• ☐ Attendance record from current/previous school
• ☐ Behaviour logs/reports
• ☐ Attainment data/progress reports
• ☐ Individual Health Care Plans (if applicable)
• ☐ Child in Need or Child Protection Plan (if applicable)
• ☐ Parental/carer consent forms
4. Communication & Meeting Records
• ☐ Record of contact with parents/carers (initial phone call or meeting)
• ☐ Record of contact with LA placement officer
• ☐ Minutes from admission panel meetings (internal or multi-agency)
• ☐ Outcome letter to LA (acceptance, request for more info, or decline)
5. Transition Preparation (where proceeding)
• ☐ Transition plan template
• ☐ Pupil induction checklist
• ☐ Welcome pack for parents/carers
If leaders feel that needs may be met, an initial offer to assess the student is made to the
referring local authority. Assessment can take place at the student’s current school or
home. Following this, a visit to the school is offered.
Where all parties agree placement, an offer letter is sent to the local authority. Within the
first term at Northstar, we arrange for a review to be held. Within this meeting, the
student’s settling and/or progress is discussed and any necessary amendments or
changes to the placement are agreed with the local authority and parents/carers.
Northstar Nurture School referral pathway:
• Have a primary diagnosis of autism (ASC), or associated traits.
• Aged between 7 and 16 years.
• Have an Education, Health and Care Plan (or under assessment – e.g. new to the
country, moved from another LA, already under statutory assessment for an
EHCP).
• Additional needs e.g. speech, language and communication needs; learning
difficulties; sensory processing; social, emotional and mental health; anxiety;
specific learning difficulties.