I'm a parent trying to get my child into a school
We know how difficult it is when your child is struggling at school and the impact that this can have on you all as a family at home too. We get it. Whilst we want to help we unfortunately can't help everyone (and neither is VLC the right place for every child), but we hope this page will help with the process(es) and signposting to the right people to talk to.
The first step is to contact your child's current school. We have students join us on alternative provision alongside their mainstream school or as part of an alternative provision package, but the referral and funding must come through their school.
If your child is waiting for an EHCP you may be thinking about potential schools for the future. As part of the EHCP process you will have the opportunity to list a parental preference for schools. You may wish to look around different schools around provision with your child to see where may be best suited. Individual schools will have to state whether they can meet your child's needs and whether they have spaces. There are set timeframes for schools to respond.
There is more information on the Statutory Process for EHC needs assessments here.
The first step is to contact your child's current school. We have students join us on alternative provision alongside their mainstream school or as part of an alternative provision package, but the referral and funding must come through their school.
If your child is waiting for an EHCP you may be thinking about potential schools for the future. As part of the EHCP process you will have the opportunity to list a parental preference for schools. You may wish to look around different schools around provision with your child to see where may be best suited. Individual schools will have to state whether they can meet your child's needs and whether they have spaces. There are set timeframes for schools to respond.
There is more information on the Statutory Process for EHC needs assessments here.
useful resources
The Warwickshire Front Door brings together Children’s Social Care and Early Help in to one place to facilitate early, better quality information sharing, analysis and decision-making to safeguard children, young people and families more effectively. The Children and Families Front Door also incorporates the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) which is a partnership between the Council, Police, NHS and other key agencies. There is more information, including contact details, available here.
Connect for Health (Compass) is a school-led service that supports children, young people and their families in Warwickshire. They include a range of healthcare professionals and can support with issues like healthy eating, parenting, friendships, sleep, bullying. There is more information on their website here.
The Samaritans are available 24/7 for free support if you need someone to talk to or are having a mental health crisis. They support adults and under 18s. There is more information on their website here.
Connect for Health (Compass) is a school-led service that supports children, young people and their families in Warwickshire. They include a range of healthcare professionals and can support with issues like healthy eating, parenting, friendships, sleep, bullying. There is more information on their website here.
The Samaritans are available 24/7 for free support if you need someone to talk to or are having a mental health crisis. They support adults and under 18s. There is more information on their website here.
Parenting support
Warwickshire County Council offers free parenting courses online, designed to give parents more confidence in parenting across all areas of childhood. They are based on a model known as the Solihull Approach. You can find out more here.
Family Lives offer free online parenting courses which you work through by yourself. They offer five courses covering parenthood from newborn to the teenage years. More information is available here.
Family Lives offer free online parenting courses which you work through by yourself. They offer five courses covering parenthood from newborn to the teenage years. More information is available here.
report a concern about a child
If you are a parent of a VLC student, and you have concerns about a child's safety or welfare, you can contact your Centre Leader, or VLC's Head of Pastoral Care to discuss your concerns. Students can speak to any member of staff or email [email protected]
If you have concerns that a child is suffering ANY form of neglect, abuse or cruelty, contact the Front Door immediately on 01926 414144 and choose option 3. Lines are open from Monday to Thursday from 8.30am–5.30pm, and Fridays from 8.30am-5pm.
Out of hours
If you have an emergency outside of usual office hours, please contact the emergency duty team immediately on 01926 886922.
Emergency contact
If you think that a child is at immediate risk, contact the police immediately on 999.
If you have concerns that a child is suffering ANY form of neglect, abuse or cruelty, contact the Front Door immediately on 01926 414144 and choose option 3. Lines are open from Monday to Thursday from 8.30am–5.30pm, and Fridays from 8.30am-5pm.
Out of hours
If you have an emergency outside of usual office hours, please contact the emergency duty team immediately on 01926 886922.
Emergency contact
If you think that a child is at immediate risk, contact the police immediately on 999.