This is the subject that causes most worry, confusion and fear when young people are considering attending a specialist college such as RNC.
To make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible, you need to talk to talk to your government funding body as soon as possible:
- In England this will be your Local Authority SEN Department
- In Wales it will be Careers Wales
- In Scotland this will be your Local Authority (Education Department)
- In Northern Ireland this will be your Education and Library Board
The local authorities / funding bodies will need to complete an assessment of your educational needs (this is a lengthy process):
- in England this is an Education, Health and Care needs assessment
- in Wales this is a request for an assessment for a Learning and Skills Plan (Please note: The Welsh government is bringing in new legislation and this process is likely to change)
- in Scotland this is a Care Support Plan
The assessment will determine whether or not your Local Authority needs to fund placement at somewhere like RNC.
You are welcome to make an application to RNC for a Pre-Entry Assessment before you have secured funding.
If you already have one of the above funding plans from your Local Authority, it will need to be formally reviewed in order to try to change the funding placement to RNC.