The Meadows offers monthly non-prejudicial group visits for parents and carers who may be interested in learning more about the provision.

Visits are led by Mrs Perkins, Head of Inclusion & SENCo, and provide families with an opportunity to see the provision first hand, whilst gaining an overview of the learning environment, ethos and approach within The Meadows. Visits typically last around 15 minutes and are observational in nature, providing a general overview of the provision.

Please note:

• Visits must be booked in advance
• Visits are held as group sessions for multiple families
• A maximum of two adults may attend per child
• Due to the visits taking place during the school day, children are unable to attend
• Occasionally, visits may need to be rearranged due to operational needs within school

Staff are unable to discuss individual pupils currently attending The Meadows or potential placement outcomes during visits. Attendance at a visit does not form part of, or influence, the EHCP consultation or placement decision-making process.  If families wish to discuss the possibility of The Meadows being consulted as part of the EHCP process, this must be discussed with the child’s current school or the Lancashire Local Authority SEND Team, who will be able to advise on next steps based on individual circumstances.

As places within The Meadows are commissioned and allocated by Lancashire Local Authority, all placement decisions remain the responsibility of the Local Authority through the EHCP consultation and naming process.  

Families can find further information about specialist schools and specialist provisions available across Lancashire through the Lancashire SEND Local Offer website. This includes information about other SEND units, specialist schools, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and SEND support services available across the county.

Lancashire SEND Local Offer – Specialist Schools and Provisions

 

Requesting a Visit

 

If you are interested in attending a non-prejudicial visit to The Meadows, please contact Brunshaw Primary School by email (sendteam@brunshaw.lancs.sch.uk) to express your interest. Visits are arranged periodically throughout the school year and places may be limited due to demand.

When requesting a visit, families may be asked to provide some brief information about their child, including their current school placement, whether they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and the current stage of the process, for example:

• a new EHCP request
• annual review discussions
• a change of placement or type of provision being considered
• tribunal or mediation processes

This information helps us prioritise and manage visit requests appropriately, as the number of visits available is limited. It does not form part of any placement decision-making process.

Please note that requesting or attending a visit does not influence whether The Meadows is consulted or named within an EHCP. If families wish to discuss the possibility of The Meadows being consulted as part of the EHCP process, this should be discussed with their child’s current school or the Lancashire Local Authority SEND Team, who will be able to advise on next steps based on individual circumstances.

We aim to respond to visit requests within 5–7 working days during term time. Please note that enquiries received during school holidays may not be responded to until school reopens.