Admissions
Manor School is currently a two-site special school in the London Borough of Brent. To support the growing number of local families requiring specialist provision, we will open a third site, Manor School Kilburn, in September 2026.
Manor School educates children aged 4 to 11. The vast majority of our pupils have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), alongside associated learning difficulties including communication, speech and language, and multisensory needs. All pupils on roll have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Across our two current sites, Manor School accommodates approximately 230 pupils. With the addition of our third site, we expect this to grow to around 300 pupils by September 2028. Manor School operates across multiple sites within the London Borough of Brent.
Manor School Early Years Centre is located on Bridge Road in Neasden, NW10 3BX, and caters for our Reception-aged pupils. From Year 1 onwards, pupils attend either Manor School Kensal Rise, located on Chamberlayne Road, NW10 3NT, or Manor School Kilburn, which will open in September 2026 and is located on Canterbury Road, NW6 5ST. Both of these sites cater for children aged 5 to 11.
All pupils joining Manor School in Reception begin their journey at MSEYC. When pupils move into Year 1, they transition to either the Kensal Rise or Kilburn site.
Pupils joining Manor School in Years 1 to 6 will be offered a place at either the Kensal Rise or Kilburn site. Decisions about which site pupils attend are based on a number of factors, including availability, proximity to home and the profile of need.
Securing a place for your child at Manor School involves close working between families, the school and the commissioning local authority. We know that this process can sometimes feel complex, so we hope that the step-by-step guide below helps you to navigate it clearly.
We recognise that choosing the right school for your child is an important decision for families. If you have questions about whether Manor School may be the right setting for your child, our team will always do their best to support and guide you through the process.
Ultimately, whether your child is offered a place at Manor School depends on three key factors:
- whether you feel Manor School is the right setting for your child
- whether your local authority agrees that a special school placement is appropriate and agrees to fund that place
- whether we have the space and resources available to meet your child’s individual needs
The Admissions process
Step 1: Talk to your local authority’s Special Educational Needs team
You should be able to find contact details for your local authority’s SEND team in the education section of your council’s website.
The SEND team will assess your child’s needs and, if appropriate, issue an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The EHCP will usually indicate whether the local authority believes that your child would benefit from a specialist setting such as Manor School.
Step 2: Visit Manor School (and others) to see provision in action
If the local authority concludes that your child would benefit from a place in a special school, we would advise arranging visits to schools that may be able to meet your child’s needs. It is often helpful to visit several different schools, as this can support you in making an informed decision about the most appropriate setting for your child.
If you would like to visit Manor School, you can book a place on one of our school tours using the online booking form on this page. Tours currently take place at Manor School Early Years Centre (MSEYC) and Manor School Kensal Rise. Once building works are complete, tours will also be available at Manor School Kilburn.
To visit our school, please complete the booking form below:
Manor School (Primary Site) - Parents and guardians tour booking form
Manor School (Early Years Centre) - Parents and guardians tour booking form
Please note - You do not need to bring your child on this initial visit; it is just an opportunity for you to see the school and to ask any questions that you may have.
Step 3: Inform the local authority of your preferred choice of school
If the local authority agrees that your child could benefit from attending a special school, the next step is to inform the SEND team that you would like them to consult with Manor School. If you live outside the London Borough of Brent, your local authority may also suggest other schools that are closer to where you live.
If your child currently attends a nursery, school or other educational setting, their SENCO may also be able to support you with this process and provide advice.
If the local authority agrees to consult with Manor School, they will send us a consultation letter along with supporting documentation, including your child’s EHCP, for us to review.
Step 4: The school formally assesses the referral
At this stage, we will review the consultation and consider whether we have a suitable vacancy. We look carefully at your child’s age and their educational, medical, behavioural and physical needs when determining whether we are able to meet them within our provision.
Step 5: Meeting your child
If, based on the information provided, it appears that we may be able to meet your child’s needs, we will usually contact your local authority before arranging a visit to your child’s current setting. This allows us to observe your child in an environment that is familiar to them.
If your child is currently without a placement, we may contact you to arrange a home visit instead.
This in-person meeting is an important opportunity for us to learn more about your child’s needs and to understand what resources and support may be required for us to meet them effectively.
Step 6: The school informs your local authority if we believe we can offer a place
If we have an appropriate vacancy, we will inform your local authority. The local authority will then decide whether they agree to name Manor School in your child’s EHCP.
If we do not currently have a vacancy but believe that we could meet your child’s needs, we will inform the local authority that we are unable to offer a placement at that time.
We do not operate a waiting list. However, we welcome follow-up consultations from local authorities on a termly basis.
Step 7: Your local authority informs you of the decision
You will hear from your local authority first, not from us. They will usually contact you in writing, although this may sometimes be followed by a phone call.
Step 8: The school writes to you with further information
If you are offered a place through your local authority, we will write to you to confirm your child’s proposed start date. Our letter will also confirm which Manor School site your child has been offered a place at.
Reception-aged pupils attend Manor School Early Years Centre (MSEYC). From Year 1 to Year 6, pupils attend either Manor School Kensal Rise or Manor School Kilburn.
At this stage, we will also share important information and discuss transition arrangements with you to help ensure your child’s start at Manor School is as smooth as possible.
If you live in the London Borough of Brent, you can find information about special educational needs and disability provision, including school admissions here: Special Educational Needs 0-25 Team | Brent Council