I am excited to share some fantastic news with you all. Harrison College has received approval from the Secretary of State to be listed as a Special Post-16 Institution on the Section 41 list for the purposes of satisfying section 38 of the Children and Families Act.

This means that we are on the same legal footing as maintained schools, academes, non maintained special schools and FE colleges.

What does this mean for our students and their families? “The Act gives parents and young people the right to express a preference for independent specialist provision when their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan is being agreed and completed. If a parent or young person requests that an approved independent special school or special Post-16 institution be named in their EHC plan, the local authority is under a conditional duty to accept (unless it would be unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the child or young person, or the attendance of the child or young person there would be incompatible with the efficient education of others or the efficient use of resources).

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-to-be-on-the-approved-list-of-independent-special-institutions/a-guide-for-independent-special-institutions-on-applying-for-inclusion-on-the-secretary-of-state-approved-list