How a Place Is Offered
Cedars Academy is one special academy across Low Fell and High Heworth. Placements are arranged through the Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) process and the local authority. Families cannot apply directly to Cedars for a place, and a visit or enquiry does not secure one.
Where to start
If you think Cedars may be right for your child, speak to their current school or setting and their local authority SEND caseworker. They can discuss your child’s needs, the support already in place and the process for requesting specialist provision.
If your child has an EHCP, you can tell the local authority that you would like Cedars to be considered. If your child does not yet have an EHCP, your local authority can advise you about requesting an EHC needs assessment.
What happens next?
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The local authority considers your child’s needs and the information available.
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If Cedars is being considered, the local authority consults us. We review the information and give our response.
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The local authority makes the decision about the setting to name in your child’s EHCP and tells you the outcome.
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If Cedars is named, we work with you, your child’s current setting and the local authority to plan their start.
For Gateshead families, placement requests are considered through the local authority’s provision arrangements. Families living outside Gateshead should contact the SEND team at their own local authority.
Low Fell or High Heworth?
Cedars is one academy across two sites. Low Fell and High Heworth offer different learning environments and approaches, with some overlap in the ages of pupils they support.
Low Fell supports pupils whose learning is best developed through a highly personalised, developmental curriculum. Communication, sensory learning, play, wellbeing and independence are central to the school day.
High Heworth offers a more structured, subject-based curriculum for secondary and sixth form students, with a strong focus on independence, practical learning and preparation for adult life.
A pupil’s year group alone does not determine which site is appropriate. When Cedars is consulted about a possible placement, we consider the pupil’s needs, learning profile and the provision at each site. We discuss this with the family and local authority as part of the placement and transition process.
Parent Visits
A visit is an opportunity to see the learning environment, meet staff and ask questions. It does not constitute an offer of a place; placements are arranged through the local authority’s EHCP process.