Planning & Admissions

The role of the Planning & Admissions Group is to look after the Children & Young People's Directorate property, plan and manage school places and manage the statutory admissions process (allocation of school places).

Property
The work of the Planning and Admissions Group includes the following property related functions:

Asset Management Plan (Preparing and maintaining an Asset Management Plan detailing the Local Authority’s plans for improving the condition, suitability and sufficiency of its assets, linking to corporate plans and securing funding, assisting schools in the development of their own Asset Management Plans, link to Asset Management Plan website)
Capital Works (Implementing and continued monitoring of progress for all approved programmes, in liaison with schools. Preparing architectural briefs for major and minor projects, and instructions to the Property Consultancy (formerly Somerset Property Services) for all other works).
Property Development (Specialist advice relating to property and accommodation issues, commissioning of ‘concept’ plans illustrating accommodation models and including curriculum and timetable analysis).
Sites (Advising schools on Children’s Services matters relating to their sites).
Health and Safety, Fire Precautions, Traffic Hazards, Security of Premises and Grounds (Implementing agreed programmes in consultation with the County Health and Safety Unit, Fire Officers and Road Safety Officers. Liasing with the Risk Management Officer over security improvement works).
Hiring and Leasing of Land and Buildings by Schools (Liaising between schools and the Property Consultancy to ensure proper legal agreement reached and scheduling of rental payments where appropriate).
Self-Help Building Schemes (Obtaining and providing essential advice to schools on financial, legal, planning and technical aspects).
SEN and Other Building Adaptations (Arranging adaptations to buildings to suit the needs of pupils and those members of the community with disabilities).

School Places
The Planning and Admissions Group plan and manage the provision of school places within the county and set the annual 'Admission Numbers' (i.e. the number of places available at each school for new intake). In fulfilling this role, the group will monitor housing and local plan data in conjunction with District Councils.

School Admissions
The Admissions Team fulfils a statutory service relating to the allocation of school places to the County's learners. This includes:

First Admission to school - click for more information
Transfers between schools - click for more information
School admission appeals - click for more information
Information to parents - click for more information
Review of admission arrangements;
Determination of ‘relevant area’ (for annual consultation of admission arrangements);
Appeals Procedures
School transport
School terms and holidays - click for details
Health and Safety for the Children & Young People’s Directorate, including the development of policy, monitoring procedures to ensure compliance etc;
Emergency planning – to assist in dealing with major civil emergencies through use of school facilities.