School places for children with social or medical needs 

All schools in Haringey have experience in dealing with children with a wide range of social and medical needs. However, there may be exceptional cases where a child needs to go to a specific school. This can be because of social or medical needs of the: 

• child 
• parent or carer – only if the child is affected 
• other family member – only if the child is affected 

Under the admission rule called 'social medical criterion', children in this situation can be prioritised for a place at a specific school. 

We'll share the information you give us with the schools you apply for to help them decide if you qualify for a place. 

Evidence you must provide 

When you apply for a school place under social medical criterion, you must include written evidence of your child’s need. The written evidence must be from either a: 

• doctor 
• social worker 
• another independent professional 

The evidence must show how your child going to that specific school meets their social or medical need, where another school cannot. Only in exceptional cases are children offered school places under the social medical criterion.

How to apply 

The deadlines to apply are:

• secondary transfer (starting secondary school in September) – 31 October
• reception or junior transfer (starting primary school in September) – 15 January

Before you apply, read the admissions booklet: 

• primary school admissions booklet (pdf, 41 page(s), 482.31 KB)
• secondary school admissions booklet (pdf, 40 page(s), 487.23 KB)

To apply: 

1. Select the social medical criterion option when applying for your school place.
2. Complete and return the social medical request form and return it to us by email (pdf, 4 page(s), 71.83 KB).
3. Send us your evidence. If we get your evidence after the application deadline, we will not look at it until after school offers are sent out (national offer day). To send us your evidence you can:
   • include it with your school application
   • include it with your social medical request form
   • email it to us

After applying 

A panel of officers looks at your evidence and decides whether your child’s application will be processed under the social medical criterion. You will get a letter letting you know the decision.