Admissions for learners who are vision impaired
If you have had a good look around our website and would like to learn more, please get in touch. The majority of students at NCW have a vision impairment as their main special educational need. In addition, some students have other additional needs such as a hearing impairment or mild learning difficulties.
If you are thinking about NCW for transition into Year 7 it is appropriate to start investigating your options while the child is still in Year 4.
It is important that NCW is named as your preferred choice of school on EHCPs and in the school transition process.
Our admissions programme runs throughout the year and we can can accept new students at any time. Many of our new starters join us part way through a year, into any year group. Often the funding process can take longer than anticipated.
I have always been impressed with the support you have all given [son] and the quality of the teaching he has received.
Admissions Criteria for Learners with vision impairment
The criteria for acceptance at NCW are for students to:
- Have vision impairment as their primary SEN, with or without additional SEND, and require access to the VI specialist curriculum
- Or, non-vision impaired students whose secondary and tertiary needs closely mirror those of our current blind and VI students
- Be capable of learning through the National Curriculum and following courses leading to recognised qualifications
- Have the potential to contribute to and benefit from being part of a social group
"I am overwhelmed by the care and support that [daughter] receives with you. The young lady we have at home is healing from failures previously. She is becoming settled and confident in her abilities, and place in the world. She LOVES her lessons. She is totally engaged, included and challenged. You lot are flipping awesome. A massive heart felt thank you."
Visit us
The process often starts by arranging a visit. Visits usually run from 11am to 2pm during which we will take you round the campus and answer your questions over lunch. You will be able to drop into lessons, have a look around the residential accommodation and meet some students and staff.
You can also attend one of our family events or open days. Details can be found by clicking the image below.
Application Form
The next step is to complete the College application form and inform your Local Authority of your application. We can help you with this.
Assessment
We will then invite your son or daughter for a residential assessment, when we can give them a taste of College life.
They will be assessed academically in different areas of learning during the school day. They will then stay with other students in one of the houses so we can assess them residentially and socially.
The staff who have been involved, contribute to a report which is submitted to the Senior Leadership Team, the SENCo and the College Nurse. They will then collectively decide if NCW is able to meet the needs of the young person.
Offer
If we think we can meet their assessed needs, we will make a provisional offer and send a full report to the Local Authority to support the funding application.
About EHC Plans
Having an EHC plan means the different agencies that provide your education, health and social care support will need to work more closely together to help you achieve your goals and make sure you are supported in the best way possible. You can find out more about Education Health and Care Plans from the Government website (www.gov.uk) or from a VI Support Charity such as VICTA UK or the RNIB.
Learners with SEN who are sighted
From 2026, we will be welcoming a small and carefully considered group of non-vision impaired students to our day provision only. The needs of this sighted child will mirror the secondary and tertiary needs of our current blind and vision‑impaired students.
Sighted students with an EHCP who are based in the Worcestershire Local Authority will be considered when consults have been received from the LA ONLY.
If you feel we would be a good fit for your CYP or we have been suggested as potential placement by a caseworker or school SENCO, please ensure your caseworker asks for a formal consultation to be sent to us.
Following a consult being sent to us, we will take all the information sent into consideration and if we feel that we could meet need based on this evidence, we will make contact with families to arrange a visit.
If the visit goes well and we continue to feel we can meet need, we would offer an assessment .
Following an assessment, we will make a decision on if we can offer a place. Families and the LA will both be informed of the decision and we will then await LA agreement of the placement before we arrange transition visits.
Our offer for sighted learners with SEN
Just let us know when you get in touch. Please contact our Family Liaison team, Tracey Smith and Laura Harris, to arrange your visit by emailing [email protected], or call 01905 763933
