Admissions are made via Blackburn with Darwen local authority, a child's mainstream school or consultant referral.

St Thomas’s Centre is a dual campus provision that works with pupils aged between five years to sixteen years. Upper school (Lambeth Street) caters for the year 9 to year 11 pupils, whilst lower school (Hawthorne Street) caters for year 1 to year 8 pupils. 

Thomas's Centre supports education at Royal Blackburn hospital.  St Thomas's Centre also provides education to pupils who are experiencing difficulties in mainstream settings due to medical or social, emotional and mental health needs.  All referrals are made by the mainstream school or directly from the Local Authority but need to be supported by a consultant.  Provision can consist of being taught in the community, in our Hub at Lower school or in classes based at both upper and lower school site.

Where appropriate, St Thomas's Centre is also the Local Authority’s registered school for pregnant pupils and young mothers.

St Thomas’s Centre do not accept referrals from mainstream schools for pupils with EHCPs unless the Local Authority, who has a legal responsibility to keep arrangements for pupils with SEN under review, including any changes to provision, has agreed to the referral.  There is an expectation that schools have followed the graduated response, involved the appropriate advisory teams and hold an early review prior to considering a referral to St Thomas’s.  Should St Thomas’s Centre be able to offer an intervention place, the mainstream school must attend an admissions meeting as well as the review meetings to ensure a successful transition back to the mainstream after the intervention place comes to an end.  Pupils will remain dual registered with their mainstream school as the mainstream school retains responsibility for monitoring the provision made for the pupil through close liaison with staff at St Thomas’s Centre.

Should St Thomas’s Centre be able to offer an intervention place, the mainstream school must attend an admissions meeting as well as the review meetings to ensure a successful transition back to the mainstream after the intervention place comes to an end. 

Please note: All In order to ensure pupils' continue to make the best academic progress whilst at St Thomas's Centre, pupils' work books in core subjects will be required from the referring school.

*Packages are currently under review.  Please use attached interim referral form. 

Please send all completed paperwork to Amanda Leaver

aleaver@stthomas.blackburn.sch.uk