Our Admissions Process

Our admissions process is slightly different to a mainstream school and we take students throughout the Academic year.

We’re a unique place, specialising in the support of Deaf children and young people who also have multiple or complex additional needs – including multi-sensory impairment, autism and physical disabilities. Every student is treated as unique and individual – an ethos which is demonstrated through tailored learning pathways, to ensure all of our students are studying in the way that is right for them, in a language-rich environment of English and British Sign Language.

We will be with you throughout the admissions process to advise you, answer any questions, and support you and your family. Ruth Kennedy, Admissions Administrator and Mark Stocks, Partnerships and Community Manager, will be in regular contact to keep you updated as the process progresses.

We will work closely with local authorities during the admissions process and we will provide you with guidance and advice as required.

If you would like to contact our admissions team, please email admissions@thedeafacademy.ac.uk

Our admission process involves five stages to ensure that the Deaf Academy is the right place for each student, and we’re here to guide you through every step of the way.

1. After making contact we will gather some general information about your situation and needs – this can be by telephone, email, Facetime, or even a visit from one of our key staff. We would require our application form completed and copies of the EHCP and any existing therapeutic reports to help us understand the potential student.
2. The next step is to arrange a visit (either at your home or here at the Deaf Academy depending on what works best for your family) with Mark Stocks – Partnership and Community Manager. We will discuss the provision at the Deaf Academy with you and answer any questions you may have.
3. If we feel you would be best placed here, we will undertake an assessment. This is a two-day visit for students, participating in classes and meeting our on-site therapy team. It is a personally tailored process, and for those who intend to be resident with us it will include an overnight stay in our residential care accommodation.
4. We aim to ensure that we offer the best service possible so that every student has a positive and enriching experience with us. This means that whilst we will endeavour to enable every student who reaches the assessment stage to come here, we also know our limits and will not offer a place if we cannot provide an excellent service for each individual. If we decide that we can meet your needs and the student decides they would like to come here, we will support and advise you with the next steps. The Local Authority decides whether they will fund your place here. This may take some time, but we will be on hand to support you through the process.
5. If a place is agreed, we will arrange a full induction programme to support students and their families through the transition.

To enquire or discuss the admission process, please contact our admissions team by email admissions@thedeafacademy.ac.uk