PATHWAYS AND REFERRALS

The right placement begins with the right questions.

A referral should not be treated as an administrative handover or a search for any available space. Before Praxis considers a placement, we need to understand what has made education difficult, what support has already been tried, what the pupil and family understand about the proposed placement and what the commissioner expects it to achieve.

The central question is not simply whether Praxis has capacity. It is whether the proposed programme can safely meet the pupil's needs, produce meaningful progress and prepare them for an appropriate next step.

Parents and carers may contact Praxis directly to ask questions and discuss their child's circumstances. A parental enquiry is not a formal referral, application or admission. A placement would require an authorised commissioner, agreed funding and completion of the relevant suitability and safeguarding checks.

Capacity, group compatibility, identified risks, required staffing and the support commissioned for the placement will all inform the decision. A space will not be offered where the evidence indicates that Praxis cannot safely or appropriately meet the pupil's needs.

Status note: Praxis is opening soon. Current enquiries support early planning and suitability discussions but do not guarantee a start date, placement or funding agreement.

ROUTES INTO PRAXIS

Who can enquire and who can commission

Different people may begin the conversation, but not every enquiry has the authority or funding needed to create a placement. Praxis will make that distinction clear from the outset.

PARENTS AND CARERS

Parents and carers may contact Praxis to describe their concerns, understand the developing offer and ask whether it may be worth approaching their child's school or local authority. This is an enquiry route, not direct admission or confirmation that funding will be available.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

A local authority may consult Praxis or commission a placement through the relevant education, SEND, inclusion or social-care route. The precise process and documentation will depend on the authority, the pupil's circumstances and the proposed funding arrangement.

Starting with proportionate information

An early discussion should use only the information reasonably needed to understand the broad circumstances and potential fit. Detailed or named pupil records should be shared through an agreed secure process and only where there is a lawful basis, appropriate authority and a clear purpose.

An enquiry may lead to a formal referral, a request for further information, a preliminary suitability discussion or a decision that Praxis is unlikely to be the right provision.

SCHOOLS

A school may make an initial enquiry or submit a formal referral where it has the authority and funding to commission alternative provision. Praxis will need sufficient educational, attendance, SEND, safeguarding and risk information to make a responsible suitability decision.

OTHER PROFESSIONALS

Education, health, social-care, advocacy or community professionals may contact Praxis with appropriate authority or consent. Their involvement can help inform the discussion, but it does not itself authorise a placement unless they hold commissioning responsibility.

FROM ENQUIRY TO DECISION

A transparent pathway with no automatic admissions.

The pathway should gather enough information for a responsible decision without creating unnecessary delay or requesting sensitive records before they are needed. It may stop at any stage if the available evidence indicates that Praxis is not suitable or that further clarification is required.

1) INITIAL ENQUIRY

A parent, carer, school, local authority or professional contacts Praxis with a broad description of the pupil's circumstances and the purpose of the enquiry. No placement is promised at this stage.

2) PRELIMINARY FIT DISCUSSION

Praxis considers whether the pupil's age, presenting needs, location, proposed timetable and intended outcomes broadly align with the developing provision. Only proportionate information should be discussed.

3) FORMAL REFERRAL OR CONSULTATION

Where there appears to be a potential fit, an authorised commissioner may submit a formal referral or consultation. The referral must identify the proposed funding route, commissioning contact and purpose of the placement.

4) INFORMATION REVIEW

Praxis reviews the information needed to assess suitability. This may include current education arrangements, attendance, attainment, SEND and EHCP information where relevant, safeguarding and risk information, health needs, previous support, pupil and family views and the intended placement outcomes.

5) SUITABILITY DISCUSSION

Praxis considers whether the provision can safely meet the pupil's needs within the proposed group, timetable, staffing and available environment. A meeting, visit or further professional discussion may be arranged where this would support a better decision.

6) WRITTEN PLACEMENT PROPOSAL

If the placement appears suitable, Praxis may provide a written proposal setting out the intended timetable, programme, staffing arrangements, agreed outcomes, review process, transition planning, cost and responsibilities of each party.

7) AGREEMENT AND ONBOARDING

A start will only be arranged after the required agreement, funding, safeguarding information, emergency contacts, consent arrangements and operational checks are complete. Onboarding and transition activity will be proportionate to the pupil's needs and agreed with the relevant parties.

A referral does not create an entitlement to a place. Where Praxis decides that it cannot safely or appropriately meet the pupil's needs, the decision and principal reasons should be communicated clearly to the referrer where lawful and appropriate.

SUITABILITY

A placement must be safe, purposeful and capable of meeting need.

Suitability will be considered individually. A diagnosis, attendance figure, behaviour incident or previous placement breakdown will not determine the decision by itself. Praxis must consider the complete available picture and whether the proposed placement is likely to produce meaningful benefit.

WHAT PRAXIS WILL CONSIDER

the pupil's age, current education and proposed part-time timetable
presenting needs, strengths, communication and learning profile
SEND and EHCP information where relevant
safeguarding, health, attendance and known risk information
the pupil's and family's understanding of the proposed placement
compatibility with the needs and safety of the existing group
the staffing, adjustments and level of support required
the intended outcomes, placement length and next destination
whether the available premises and programme can meet the identified needs
whether the required support has been agreed and commissioned.

WHEN PRAXIS MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE

Praxis may not be the right placement where:
the pupil requires a full-time school placement that Praxis is not currently offering
identified needs require specialist facilities, clinical treatment or levels of supervision that are not available
known risks cannot be safely managed within the proposed environment and commissioned staffing
the placement would be used primarily for containment without clear educational outcomes
essential safeguarding, risk or educational information has not been provided
no authorised commissioner or funding agreement is in place
group compatibility cannot be achieved safely.

A decision that Praxis is not suitable is not a judgement on the pupil or family. It means that the proposed provision, environment or commissioned support cannot responsibly meet the identified needs at that time.

GET IN TOUCH

Start the right conversation.

Whether you are a parent exploring possible support or a professional considering a commissioned placement, the first contact should be clear about who you are, why you are enquiring and what you hope the proposed provision might achieve.

FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

You may contact Praxis to ask questions and explain the broad concerns affecting your child's education. Please do not send detailed medical, safeguarding or other sensitive records through the general website enquiry form. If further information is needed, Praxis will explain an appropriate next step.

Parent and Carer Enquiry

Submitting an enquiry does not create a referral, reserve a place or guarantee that Praxis can meet the pupil's needs. Praxis is opening soon, and current enquiries support planning and preliminary suitability discussions.

FOR PROFESSIONALS

Schools, local authorities and other authorised professionals may request an initial referral or commissioning discussion. Please identify your role, organisation, commissioning route and the broad purpose of the proposed placement.

Professional Referral Discussion