SV ACADEMY ENROLMENT POLICY

Compulsory School-Age / Statutory & Commissioned Provision and Post-16

Policy Owner | Executive Headteacher / Headteacher
Strategic Oversight | Executive Headteacher
Operational Lead | Headteacher
Approval Body | Directors of SV Academy
Policy Date | September 2026
Next Review | September 2027, or earlier if legislation, guidance or provision changes

1. Statement of Intent

SV Academy is committed to providing a safe, fair, inclusive and well-managed enrolment process for every student. Enrolment is the point at which the Academy confirms that a placement or programme is suitable, the necessary safeguarding and education information has been obtained, responsibilities are clear, and the student is ready to begin learning.

SV Academy operates distinct enrolment routes for compulsory school-age / statutory and commissioned provision and for Post-16 provision. These routes have different referral, funding, registration and accountability arrangements and must not be treated as interchangeable.

All student enrolment at SV Academy is by appointment. A student must not simply arrive and begin attending without an enrolment appointment and an agreed start date. Where an urgent statutory or safeguarding need requires a rapid start, the appointment may be expedited and interim arrangements may be authorised by the Headteacher or Executive Headteacher, with the decision and risk assessment recorded.

The Academy recognises that many students may have experienced disrupted education, exclusion, trauma, SEND, social or emotional difficulties, migration, care experience or other barriers to learning. Enrolment should therefore combine appropriate checks with a welcoming, child-centred approach and the opportunity for a fresh start.

2. Aims

To ensure that every enrolment is lawful, safe, transparent and appropriate to the student and the provision.
To distinguish clearly between compulsory school-age / statutory and commissioned placements and Post-16 enrolment.
To ensure that all enrolments take place by appointment and that no start date is confirmed until essential information has been considered.
To obtain sufficient safeguarding, SEND, education, attendance, health and placement information before or as soon as reasonably practicable after a student starts.
To remove unnecessary barriers for vulnerable students, including asylum-seeking, refugee and unaccompanied young people, while maintaining robust safeguarding controls.
To identify concerns about age, identity, suitability or placement status and refer them to the appropriate statutory body rather than attempting to determine matters outside the Academy's professional remit.
To provide a structured induction so that students understand expectations, support, curriculum, safeguarding arrangements and how to seek help.
To support positive attendance, engagement, progress, reintegration and destinations.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all prospective and newly enrolled students across SV Academy, including students referred or commissioned by schools, local authorities or other agencies and students applying to Post-16 programmes.

It should be read alongside the Academy's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, Attendance Policy, SEND / Inclusion arrangements, Behaviour Policy, Curriculum Policy, Equality arrangements, Data Protection Policy and any commissioning or funding agreement relevant to the placement.

4. Legal and Guidance Framework

SV Academy will apply this policy in accordance with its legal status, registered age range, approved capacity, funding agreements and the requirements applicable to the relevant provision. Key sources include:

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.
Education Act 1996, including section 19 where a local authority arranges suitable education for children who would otherwise not receive it.
Department for Education statutory guidance on Alternative Provision, updated February 2025.
Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years.
Equality Act 2010.
School attendance and pupil registration requirements applicable to the Academy.
Department for Education 16 to 19 funding rules and eligibility guidance for the relevant funding year.
Children Act 1989, including section 20 where relevant to unaccompanied children in local authority care.
Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and current Home Office / National Age Assessment Board guidance where an asylum-seeking young person's age is disputed.

5. Leadership and Responsibilities

The Executive Headteacher has strategic oversight of enrolment arrangements, ensures that the policy reflects the Academy's provision and regulatory responsibilities, and considers escalated or high-risk cases.

The Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day operation of enrolment, including placement suitability, staffing and timetable readiness, implementation of safeguarding controls, and ensuring agreed processes are followed.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) must be involved where safeguarding information is identified, information is incomplete in a way that creates a safeguarding risk, or there are concerns about age, exploitation, trafficking, care status or the safety of the student or others.

The SENCO / SEND lead must be involved where a student has, or may have, SEND, an EHC plan or significant additional needs requiring reasonable adjustments or specialist planning.

Admissions, administration and Post-16 staff are responsible for collecting and checking information, recording the enrolment accurately, and escalating discrepancies. They must not make independent safeguarding or age-assessment determinations outside their role.

All staff share responsibility for creating a welcoming transition and promptly reporting information that may affect the suitability or safety of a placement.

6. Routes to Enrolment

SV Academy operates two principal routes. The required process depends on the provision the student will enter.

FeatureCompulsory School-Age / Statutory & CommissionedPost-16Typical route | Referral / commissioning by school, local authority or responsible agency. | Direct application, professional referral or appropriate recruitment / outreach.
Purpose | Alternative / statutory education, reintegration, specific intervention or commissioned placement. | Study programme, qualifications, progression and preparation for employment / further education.
Registration | School-roll and accountability status agreed with commissioner / local authority. | Student enrolled on Post-16 systems and recorded under relevant funding / audit rules.
Funding | Commissioned placement / SLA / local authority or school funding as agreed. | Subject to current 16 to 19 funding and contractual eligibility rules.
Start | Appointment required; expedited if urgent statutory need. | Appointment required before enrolment and programme start.

7. Appointment-Only Enrolment

All enrolments are by appointment. The purpose of the appointment is to verify key information, understand the student's needs, agree expectations, confirm the placement or programme, and identify any actions required before the start date.

An appointment should normally include the student and, according to age and circumstances, a parent or carer, social worker, responsible local authority officer, commissioner, key worker or other appropriate adult. An unaccompanied young person must not be disadvantaged because a parent or conventional identity document is unavailable.

The Academy may conduct parts of the process remotely where appropriate, but identity, safeguarding and suitability checks must still be completed to a reasonable standard. A physical visit or face-to-face meeting will normally form part of induction before or at the start of attendance.

8. Enrolment Process

Stage 1 - Referral or application received and logged.
Stage 2 - Initial screening confirms the correct provision route, age range, available capacity and obvious safeguarding or SEND issues.
Stage 3 - Required information is requested from the student, parent/carer, referring school, local authority, social worker or other commissioner as appropriate.
Stage 4 - Enrolment appointment takes place. The student's needs, previous education, attendance, safeguarding information, programme aims and support requirements are discussed.
Stage 5 - Baseline and initial assessments are planned or completed, including English, maths, reading, SEND and other assessments as appropriate.
Stage 6 - Placement / programme suitability is confirmed and any risk assessments or reasonable adjustments are agreed.
Stage 7 - A start date, timetable and attendance expectations are confirmed. For commissioned placements, reporting and review arrangements are agreed with the commissioner.
Stage 8 - The student completes induction and the enrolment checklist is signed off and retained on the student record.

9. Information Required for Enrolment

The exact evidence required will depend on the student and provision. SV Academy will take a proportionate approach and will not create unnecessary barriers where reliable information can be verified through another route.

Full legal name, preferred name and any previous names where relevant.
Date of birth and available evidence of age / identity.
Address and contact details, or the responsible local authority / placement address where the young person is looked after or unaccompanied.
Parent, carer, social worker, commissioner and emergency contact details as applicable.
Previous and current education provider and education history.
Current roll / registration status for compulsory school-age students and confirmation of which organisation retains statutory accountability where relevant.
Attendance history and any known barriers to attendance.
Safeguarding information, child protection plan / child in need / looked-after status where applicable, and relevant professional contacts.
SEND information, EHC plan, individual support plans, assessments and reasonable adjustments.
Medical, allergy, medication, mobility or other health information necessary for safe education.
Relevant risk assessments, behaviour or safety plans, including risks to self or others where appropriate.
Prior attainment, qualifications, examination entries and current courses.
For Post-16, the evidence required by current DfE funding and eligibility rules, including residency / immigration evidence where applicable.
Consent and information-sharing documentation where required.

10. Compulsory School-Age / Statutory and Commissioned Provision

Compulsory school-age placements will normally arise through a referral or commissioning arrangement with a school, local authority or other responsible body. SV Academy is an alternative provision provider and the commissioner must be clear about the purpose and intended outcomes of the placement.

Before a placement begins, the Academy will seek written confirmation of the referral basis, the commissioner, funding arrangements, registration status, attendance reporting arrangements, safeguarding contacts, placement objectives, review dates and expected duration. Where the home school remains the commissioner, the student may remain on that school's roll and the commissioner retains responsibilities that cannot be transferred merely by arranging alternative provision.

For local-authority statutory provision, SV Academy will cooperate with the local authority to avoid unnecessary delay in providing suitable education. An urgent placement may be started following an expedited appointment where sufficient safeguarding information and interim controls are available.

The Academy will not enrol a compulsory school-age student outside its registered age range, capacity or approved type of provision unless any required Department for Education material change approval has been obtained.

11. Post-16 Provision

Post-16 enrolment is separate from compulsory school-age placement. Students may apply directly, be referred by a professional or be recruited through appropriate outreach. All applicants must complete an enrolment appointment before starting.

SV Academy will confirm programme suitability, prior attainment, learning goals, English and maths requirements, support needs, planned hours, attendance expectations and funding eligibility in accordance with the current 16 to 19 funding rules and any relevant contract.

For the 2026 to 2027 funding year, DfE guidance generally treats students aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August 2026 as within the 16 to 18 cohort, with specific rules for continuing students, high-needs students and other categories. Staff must always use the current funding-year rules rather than relying on an earlier policy.

Where a prospective student is an asylum seeker, refugee or otherwise has an immigration status that requires eligibility checking, staff must use the current DfE rules and obtain evidence proportionately. Immigration status must not be guessed from nationality, accent, appearance or documentation gaps.

12. SEND, EHC Plans and Reasonable Adjustments

A student will not be refused or disadvantaged simply because they have SEND or a disability. The Academy will consider reasonable adjustments and whether the provision can meet the student's needs safely and effectively.

Where an EHC plan is in place, the plan and relevant professional advice should be obtained and reviewed before the start date wherever possible. If SV Academy is being considered through a statutory consultation, the Academy will respond accurately about whether it can meet need, what provision is required and any material issues relating to suitability or capacity.

Support arrangements should be agreed with the student, parent/carer or young person, commissioner and relevant professionals as appropriate. Where information is incomplete, interim support and risk controls may be put in place while evidence is obtained.

13. Asylum-Seeking, Refugee and Unaccompanied Young People

SV Academy welcomes lawful applications and referrals from asylum-seeking, refugee and unaccompanied young people. Such students may have experienced trauma, disrupted education, exploitation, trafficking, bereavement, language barriers and uncertainty about immigration status. These circumstances require safeguarding awareness and support, not lowered educational expectations.

Where SV Academy undertakes recruitment or outreach with asylum-seeking young people, staff must ensure that the same appointment-based enrolment process is used, with additional care around identity, age, social care status, language needs and funding eligibility. Recruitment activity must not promise a place or public funding before eligibility and suitability checks have been completed.

For Post-16 funding, current DfE guidance includes asylum seekers aged up to and including 18 within groups that may be eligible for 16 to 19 funding, subject to the detailed funding rules. A no-recourse-to-public-funds condition does not by itself determine education funding eligibility. Staff must check the current rules for each case.

An unaccompanied young person should normally have an allocated social worker or local authority contact involved in the enrolment process. Lack of a passport, birth certificate, parental signature or conventional home address must not automatically prevent enrolment where identity, care arrangements and eligibility can be established through reliable alternative evidence.

14. Concerns or Disputes About Age

SV Academy is not an age-assessment authority. Staff must not attempt to determine a young person's age through appearance, demeanour, dental appearance, informal questioning or assumptions about nationality or culture.

Age concerns can nevertheless be a serious safeguarding matter. They can arise before enrolment or after a student has started, including where information later obtained is inconsistent with the declared age or there is a credible concern that an adult may be accessing provision intended for children.

Where a genuine concern arises, the staff member must record the factual basis of the concern and report it immediately to the DSL and the Headteacher. The Executive Headteacher must be informed in significant, disputed or high-risk cases. The Academy will contact the responsible local authority children's social care team, social worker and/or commissioner and request that the concern is considered through the appropriate statutory age-assessment process.

Current Home Office guidance states that schools raising age concerns should raise them with the local authority and request a Merton-compliant age assessment where appropriate. Formal age assessment is undertaken by the local authority or, in defined circumstances, the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB), not by the school.

Physical appearance and demeanour alone are unreliable indicators of chronological age. Staff must avoid confrontation or accusatory language and must not require the young person to prove their age as a condition of being treated respectfully and safely.

15. Section 20 Accommodation and Age Concerns

Where an unaccompanied young person is accommodated by a local authority under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, SV Academy will work with the responsible local authority and social worker and will treat the care status as important safeguarding information.

Section 20 accommodation does not mean that SV Academy should ignore credible new information about age. It is not the Academy's role to overturn a local authority decision, but current age-assessment guidance makes clear that the local authority is responsible for deciding age for the purpose of its children's-services functions and can undertake or refer for a formal age assessment where reasonable doubt exists.

Accordingly, if SV later develops a genuine and evidenced concern that a person being educated as a child may be an adult, the concern must be referred back to the local authority / social worker and commissioner. SV Academy will not conduct its own age assessment or make a unilateral legal determination of age.

16. Interim Safeguarding Measures While Age Is Being Considered

The welfare of the individual and the safety of other students must both be considered. Pending an authoritative decision, SV Academy will use a precautionary, child-centred approach and will not make assumptions solely from appearance.

The DSL, Headteacher and, where appropriate, Executive Headteacher will complete or update a safeguarding risk assessment. Interim measures may include increased supervision, changes to groupings or shared spaces, an adjusted timetable, additional professional oversight, or other proportionate controls.

On-site attendance may be paused only where there is an identifiable and immediate safeguarding risk that cannot reasonably be managed in another way. Any pause must be proportionate, recorded, reviewed urgently with the commissioner / local authority, and accompanied by consideration of safe alternative learning arrangements.

An age concern must not be used as a disguised disciplinary sanction. The student should be told, in an appropriate and sensitive way, what practical arrangements affect them and who is responsible for the formal process.

17. Outcome of an Age Assessment

If an authoritative assessment confirms the student is under 18, the Academy will continue to support the student in the appropriate provision and will ensure that the age dispute itself is not treated as misconduct.

If an authoritative assessment concludes that the individual is 18 or over, SV Academy will review the placement immediately. A person who is no longer within the lawful or safe age parameters of a compulsory school-age provision will not remain in that child placement unless there is a clear lawful basis and the placement is within the Academy's approved registration and safeguarding arrangements.

For Post-16, being 18 or over does not automatically make a student ineligible. The Academy will reassess the person's programme and funding eligibility under the current DfE rules, including provisions for continuing students and, where relevant, 19 to 24 year olds with EHC plans. Where the existing programme cannot continue, SV Academy will work with the responsible agency and the individual to identify an appropriate next step where practicable.

18. Safeguarding Information and File Transfer

Safeguarding information must be obtained and shared on a need-to-know basis in accordance with KCSIE, Working Together, data protection law and the Academy's information-sharing arrangements.

For compulsory school-age placements, the referring school / commissioner should provide relevant safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, SEND and risk information before the placement starts wherever possible. Where a child protection file or safeguarding information needs to be transferred, this should be handled securely and separately from routine academic records.

SV Academy will not delay action where the absence of information itself creates concern. The DSL will contact the referring DSL, social worker or relevant statutory service to clarify risk and decide whether interim controls are required.

19. Equality, Inclusion and Fair Decision-Making

Enrolment decisions must not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. The Academy will consider reasonable adjustments for disabled students and will take account of SEND, communication needs, literacy, language, trauma and care experience.

Decisions must be based on lawful eligibility, the Academy's registered provision, safeguarding, suitability, the ability to meet need, capacity and the terms of any commissioning or funding arrangement. Immigration status, nationality, race, religion, accent or lack of conventional documents must not be used as proxies for suitability.

Where a place cannot be offered, the reason should be recorded and communicated appropriately to the applicant and/or commissioner. The decision should distinguish between capacity, programme suitability, funding eligibility, safeguarding requirements and any statutory limitation.

20. Induction

The Academy's previous Induction Policy emphasised a seamless transition, high expectations, a fresh start, personalised learning and strong communication with parents, carers and professionals. Those principles remain part of the enrolment process and are incorporated into this policy.

Induction should be proportionate to the student and provision and will normally include:

A welcome meeting and tour of the Academy.
Introduction to key staff, including the person the student should approach for help.
Safeguarding arrangements, including how to report a concern.
Behaviour expectations, rewards, sanctions and professional boundaries.
Attendance, punctuality, absence reporting and timetable expectations.
Emergency, first aid, fire and site-safety arrangements.
Curriculum / programme information, assessment arrangements and learning goals.
Baseline assessments and an initial learner profile or ILP where appropriate.
SEND support and reasonable adjustments.
Online safety, acceptable use of technology and mobile-phone expectations.
Careers, destinations and transition planning appropriate to the student's age and programme.
Student voice and opportunities to contribute to Academy life.

21. Baseline Assessment and Personalisation

SV Academy will use available prior attainment information and appropriate baseline assessment to establish a starting point. This may include English, maths, reading, BKSB or other curriculum assessments, SEND screening and social / emotional information where relevant.

Assessment must be used to plan teaching and support rather than to create unnecessary barriers to enrolment. Students entering after disrupted education or from another education system must be given reasonable opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do.

The student's programme, group placement and support plan should be reviewed after initial attendance where new information becomes available.

22. Start Date, Attendance and Registration

A start date is confirmed only when the Academy has sufficient information to begin safely and the relevant placement / programme has been accepted. For commissioned placements, the commissioner must be informed of the agreed start date.

Students must be entered onto the appropriate Academy systems and registers in accordance with the legal and funding requirements that apply to their provision. Compulsory school-age registration status must be agreed with the referring school or local authority. Post-16 enrolment and attendance evidence must satisfy current funding and audit requirements.

Where a student fails to attend the agreed start date, the Attendance Policy and safeguarding procedures apply. Non-attendance must not simply be treated as an administrative withdrawal where the student is a child or vulnerable young person and welfare concerns exist.

23. Review of Placement and Withdrawal

Commissioned statutory / compulsory school-age placements should be reviewed with the commissioner at agreed intervals and whenever there is a significant change in need, risk, attendance or placement purpose.

Post-16 programmes should be reviewed in line with academic progress, attendance, funding rules and learner support arrangements.

A student must not be removed from the Academy solely to resolve a safeguarding, SEND, attendance or age concern without the appropriate process. Where a placement ends, the Academy will cooperate with the relevant school, local authority, social worker, parent/carer or next provider to support a safe transition and transfer relevant records.

24. Records, Confidentiality and Data Protection

SV Academy will maintain an auditable enrolment record, including the application / referral, appointment, evidence reviewed, decisions, start date, provision route, support needs and any risk or safeguarding actions.

Immigration, asylum, care and age-dispute information is sensitive and must be restricted to staff who need it for education, funding, safeguarding or legal purposes. Information will be shared with statutory bodies where there is a lawful basis and in accordance with safeguarding and data protection requirements.

Records will be retained in accordance with the Academy's records-management schedule, statutory requirements and funding audit rules.

25. Concerns, Review and Complaints

A parent/carer, young person, commissioner or professional who is concerned about the enrolment process should initially raise the matter with the Headteacher. Matters involving strategic policy, a significant safeguarding dispute or a contested placement decision may be escalated to the Executive Headteacher.

This internal review process does not replace any statutory right, local-authority process, funding review, SEND appeal or judicial remedy available to the individual.

26. Monitoring and Review

The Headteacher will monitor the operation of this policy and the quality of enrolment records. The Executive Headteacher will provide strategic oversight and review themes arising from referrals, rejected / deferred placements, safeguarding concerns, age disputes, SEND needs and transitions.

The policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner if there are changes to legislation, DfE funding rules, safeguarding guidance, the Academy's registered provision, commissioning arrangements or operational experience.

Appendix A - Enrolment Appointment Checklist

[ ] Correct provision route confirmed: compulsory school-age / commissioned OR Post-16.
[ ] Referral / application and commissioner details received.
[ ] Identity, date of birth and contact information checked using available evidence.
[ ] Parent/carer/social worker/appropriate adult details recorded where applicable.
[ ] Previous education, roll status, attendance and prior attainment obtained.
[ ] Safeguarding information requested / received and DSL consulted where required.
[ ] SEND / EHC plan / support and reasonable adjustments considered.
[ ] Health, medication, allergies and emergency information recorded.
[ ] Risk assessments / behaviour or safety plans obtained where relevant.
[ ] Funding and eligibility checks completed for Post-16.
[ ] Age concern considered and escalated if necessary - no informal age assessment undertaken by SV.
[ ] Baseline / initial assessments planned or completed.
[ ] Timetable, start date and attendance expectations confirmed.
[ ] Student induction completed and key policies explained.
[ ] Commissioner / parent / young person informed of review arrangements.

Appendix B - Age Concern Escalation

A factual concern arises about declared age. Do not confront, accuse or assess age informally.
Record the objective information and notify the DSL and Headteacher immediately.
Executive Headteacher informed for significant, disputed or high-risk cases.
Contact the responsible local authority children's social care / social worker and commissioner. Request consideration of formal age assessment where appropriate.
Complete / review safeguarding risk assessment and apply proportionate interim controls while awaiting authoritative action.
Do not treat Section 20 status as preventing concerns being referred, but do not attempt to overturn or replace the local authority's statutory role.
When an authoritative outcome is received, review the placement, funding, registration, safeguarding and transition arrangements immediately.

References and Further Guidance

Policy reviewed: September 2026 | Next scheduled review: September 2027

Enrolment Policy