We assess every referral individually. Here is who we are built for.
Ziki AP School is registered across a wide spectrum of special educational needs. We state transparently who will flourish in our 25-place Chatham setting, and where our boundaries lie.
Who We Are Built For
SEMH & Emotional Regulation
Social, emotional and mental health needs, including anxiety-based avoidance and trauma backgrounds.
- Attachment difficulties
- School anxiety & phobia
- Past exclusions / non-attendance
- Dysregulated emotional states
Autism & Sensory Profiles
Autistic young people needing low-arousal environments, predictable structure, and sensory modulation.
- Sensory sensitivities
- Executive functioning needs
- Communication differences
- Small group comfort
Cognition & Learning
Moderate learning difficulties, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, and gaps caused by prolonged time out of education.
- Attainment gaps
- Reading age catch-up
- 1:1 focus requirement
- Hands-on learning preference
How young people usually reach us
Almost nobody arrives here as their first school. Typical referral pathways include:
- After permanent exclusion — often from more than one setting.
- Prolonged non-attendance — emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and severe anxiety.
- EHCP Section 39 consultation — mainstream setting unable to meet Section F requirements.
- Section 19 Education Act 1996 — local authority discharging duty to provide suitable education.
- Looked-After Children (Section 22 CA 1989) — virtual school head and social worker collaboration.
Physical Accessibility Note
The entrance on Cambridge Terrace is step-free, with a ground-floor classroom and accessible toilet. The upper floors are reached by stairs as the building has no lift. Pupils who cannot navigate stairs are taught on the ground floor throughout the day.