Pre-consultation

My Oasis Independent Specialist School caters on a day basis for up to 20 students of secondary age who primarily have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP). Their EHCP’s are in respect of their Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and/or students who often present with associated neurodiversity which impacts on their ability to attend mainstream education.

Students are referred to My Oasis by either Local Authorities or the mainstream school a student is on roll at. To be admitted to My Oasis School, it is preferable for students to be referred prior to KS4 to ensure that they can access the full curriculum available to them and have the best chance of achieving their goals. However, we do accept students for admission during any school year.

Students admitted to the school roll will generally have an EHCP in place which states that the student requires the specialist educational setting provided by us at My Oasis. Often the young people referred to us at My Oasis School are neurodiverse in some way, struggle with SEMH issues, and are frequently classed as Emotionally Based School Avoidant (EBSA) and have been struggling to attend school due to anxiety.

Following receipt of all the required documentation and a completed referral form, an initial appraisal will be made by the school to assess whether the stated needs can be met by My Oasis. If we feel the need’s can be met, the prospective student and their parents/carers will be invited to have a look around and be given the opportunity to explore all aspects of school life. This could be both when other students are there or when it is just teaching staff present, with this being decided based on how anxious the student is feeling about visiting.

During the visit to school, discussions will be held about how My Oasis proposes to support the young person’s needs based on their EHCP’s, with students being encouraged to voice their opinions as much as possible. Prior to admission, a student and their family will also be visited at home to begin the assessment process, confirm background information, previous attendance data, as well as complete all required consent forms and medical forms. Further information will be gathered as part of the assessment process from any services involved in supporting your child. The assessment stage allows us to obtain valuable insights about your child and collectively evaluate whether My Oasis is the right school for them.

Once all parties agree that My Oasis is the right school for the student, their mainstream school and/or the Local Authority will be informed, with an acceptance letter being sent out within 48 hours. The transitional basis into My Oasis will initially begin on a part-time basis, gradually building up a student’s time in school depending on their individual needs. For students with an EHCP, transport will be arranged by their Local Authority or a student’s mainstream school if the young person has been referred through that route and they are not eligible for transport through the council.

The first three months of a student’s time with us at My Oasis requires completion of a range of assessments, which we view as the transitional assessment period. During this time if it is decided that the student’s needs cannot be met due to possibly inaccurate information being provided on referral, then a student’s placement can be terminated immediately.

If as parents and carers, you would like to name My Oasis on your child’s EHCP, you must inform the LA and request My Oasis as a parental preference. This generally ought to take place when your child’s EHCP is being reviewed or amended, or alternatively when your child is getting an EHCP for the first time. If My Oasis is being considered as a possible school for your child, parents and carers are also welcome to contact us to request further information or so we can answer any questions needed. However, the consultation request or referral form will need to come directly from the Local Authority or the student’s mainstream school.