--- title: "Admissions - Info for Parents" url: "https://portlandschool.net/parents/admissions-and-attendance" school: "Portland School" --- # Admissions - Info for Parents ## Admissions Portland School is a specialist provision for pupils, aged 5-16, whose needs cannot be met within mainstream. We operate across two school sites in different locations; Trent Vale and Blythe Bridge. We serve families across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. All pupils at Portland School have an Education Health and Care Plan associated with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. We aim to support students across the spectrum of ‘social, emotional and mental health’ difficulties and our two sites aim to support students with different manifestations of these difficulties. At Blythe Bridge, pupils typically present with more complex SEMH profiles, often underpinned by early trauma, attachment difficulties, and neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These students frequently exhibit high levels of dysregulation, with behaviours that are overt, reactive, and at times challenging. At Trent Vale, pupils present with more established cognition and learning difficulties, often alongside ASD and SEMH needs. Dysregulation here is typically less overt, with behaviours that may be passive and internalised as well as displaying high levels of challenge. You can find out more information about our two sites in the ["Who are we?"](https://portlandschool.net/our-school/who-are-we) section of our website. Children who require a place at Portland are identified by the Local Authority after an assessment of the pupils’ needs. To attend Portland School, your child will need an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan from the Stoke-on-Trent City Council or a relevant (often nearby local authority) which details special educational needs of your child. In the first instance, if you are considering a place at Portland School for your child, speak to the SEN coordinator (SENCO) at your child's current school or your named Case Officer at the local authority. The council will help identify suitable special schools and manage the admission process, often involving school visits and agreements from all parties. If a place is offered, we aim to offer a timely, sensitive and appropriate transition to Portland School. If you wish to find out more about our transition and induction periods, please click here: Admissions Transitions & Induction Policy 822 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/portland-school/files/documents/Admissions_Transitions_Induction_Policy(1).docx) If your child does not yet have an EHCP please examine consider the following steps: **1. Determine if an EHC plan is needed** - Contact your current school: Speak to the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) at your child's current school or nursery if you think they have special educational needs that require specialist support. - Contact the Local Authority: If your child isn't in school, or for more advice, contact Stoke-on-Trent Local Authority **2. Apply for an EHC Plan** - EHC plan assessment: The local authority will assess your child to determine if they need an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which outlines their needs and required support. - Identify special schools: If an EHC plan is issued, it will specify the type of specialist setting that can meet your child's needs, and the local authority may provide a list of suitable schools. **3. Admission to the Special School:** Referral - All admissions to special schools are coordinated by the local authority - School Visits: - The council will advise you to contact the school for a potential visit to ensure the setting, curriculum, and staff are appropriate for their needs. Agreement: - Following a successful visit and agreement from the school, parents/carers, and the local authority, arrangements will be made for the admission. ### Parents - [Admissions - Info for Parents](https://portlandschool.net/parents/admissions-and-attendance) - [Attendance](https://portlandschool.net/parents/attendance) - [Arbor for Parents](https://portlandschool.net/parents/arbor-for-parents) - [Magic Breakfast](https://portlandschool.net/parents/magic-breakfast) - [Parent Pay](https://portlandschool.net/parents/parent-pay) - [School Lunches](https://portlandschool.net/parents/school-dinners) - [Term Dates](https://portlandschool.net/parents/termdates) - [Transport Guidance](https://portlandschool.net/parents/transport-guidance) - [Zones of Regulation](https://portlandschool.net/parents/zones-of-regulation) [Embedded content](https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2402.841362859722!2d-2.0771435839465293!3d52.96926811058855!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487a6ba6a045a1e5%3A0x3581b78c81ccedc2!2sPortland%20School%20and%20Specialist%20College!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1669216102932!5m2!1sen!2suk) ![Portland School](https://files.schudio.com/portland-school/images/logo/Portland/portland-csp-portrait-circle.png) **Portland School** Blythe Bridge: Uttoxeter Road, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent, ST11 9JG Trent Vale: Newcastle Road, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6NS Tel: 01782 88 2020 Email: [![Shaw Education Trust](https://files.schudio.com/shaw-education-trust-2/images/logo/set-misc/footer-logo-v1.png)](https://shaw-education.org.uk) **Shaw Education Trust** Kidsgrove Secondary School Gloucester Road Kidsgrove ST7 4DL VAT: GB 358822467 Tel: 01782 948259 Email: Company Number: 09067175 ### Newsletter ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/portlandschool) © Copyright 2022–2026 Portland School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://portlandschool.net/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)