Ehcp school admissions

[Idontgetit33]

I know I can look at the schools admissions policy. But it confuses me and I can't take it in. But I will look later and get some help to .

But just for now do secondary schools often give priority to pupils with EHCP applying for year 7?

If the EHCP names that school then the child gets that school.

But more generally I don’t believe just having an EHCP gives you priority?

Admission for children with an EHCP is a separate process to the normal admissions process.

A school that is named in section I of an EHCP must admit the pupil. There are limited reasons the LA can refuse to name parental preference and the school can be named even if they object.

With an ehcp you get the transition review in y5 to agree the school. If you name the school and they think they can meet needs it goes into the ehcp and then you get that school. I believe.

Admissions for children with EHCPs are managed by the local authority entirely separately from the usual admissions process. As pp says if the EHCP names a particular school then that school has to give a place. If not, it will be a question of where can meet the needs on the EHCP.

The transition review would consider schools and if the school is named, then a place is offered. Not quite the same for specialist provision.

So does that mean my son will basically be given a school and I don't get to choose?

do secondary schools often give priority to pupils with EHCP applying for year 7?

In short yes but the proper answer is admissions are not done in a normal way.

The proper process and what actually happens depends on your LA.

The ones I know about this is what happened:

1. The school has to feel that it can meet the needs of the child. So if you as the parents/carers of the child think that one of your nearest schools will suit your child, then you need to agree it with the school e.g. by visiting it and talking to the SENCO about your child.
2. Then you will have an EHCP review and you give your input including the name of the school. (The ones I know about the parents/carers basically rewrote parts of the EHCP themselves as they contained outdated information.)
3. The child then gets accepted on offer day.

I don't know what happens if you name a school which the LA doesn't agree that you can send your child to because of transport or other costs. (Edited to say: Sorry that's not true but I have forgotten what happens but I do know families ended up moving or as the parents lived separately in different areas the child moved to live with the other parent. )

Depends on your LA and the school you want your child to go to.

The legal process is exactly the same for DC with EHCPs, whether they are in/moving to a special school or in/moving to mainstream. LAs may claim differently, but the law is not different.

As much as many LAs and schools would like parents to believe the school has to say they can meet DC’s needs, they don’t and unless the LA can also prove one of the exceptions, the school objecting when consulted is not a lawful reason not to name parental preference. And while many LAs like to use the Y5 AR as the phase transfer review, especially in the summer term, it should really be in the autumn term of Y6.

During the review process you will get the opportunity to state your preferred placement. Unless your preferred placement is wholly independent the LA must name it unless the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

The LA may claim you have to complete a separate admission form or state more than one placement. You don’t.

Sorry what's year 5 AR?

OP, I would suggest you take a look at the IPSEA info about this: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/choosing-a-schoolcollege-with-an-ehc-plan

There is a lot of incorrect info on this thread about choosing a school with an EHCP.

It is dependant on your local authority. Having an EHCP doesn’t necessarily automatically give you rights to attend the school. In our LA, you name the school, this then goes out to consultation to the school and they have to agree to a place or decline based on why they feel they can’t meet the child’s needs.

Year 5 annual review.

The law is the same whatever LA you live in. And to reiterate, the school does not need to agree to being named unless they are wholly independent.

You don't choose in the normal application process, but parental preference is a big factor in naming a school in the EHCP. The LA would need a really good reason not to name your prefered school (like couldn't keep DC or others safe).

How old is your DS?
When was his last/next annual review?

The LA may claim you have to complete a separate admission form or state more than one placement. You don’t

So can I litterly choose a school I want my DS to go to ?

As I posted, during the review process you will get the opportunity to state your preferred placement. Unless your preferred placement is wholly independent the LA must name it unless the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

Thank you . I find it hard to take things in when I look stuff up it always seems complicated . I will ask for help via senco at ds school. But I was just wondering as I want to be sure as I can be when looking.

It seems to vary between counties but in my experience the parents name the school they want and the LA will contact that school and the catchment school to see whether either can meet the child's needs.

Don’t take the SENCO’s word for it. LAs and some schools will often give incorrect information based on their version of the law and what they want you to know.

That makes sense thank you .
He's only just going into year 5 in September. So I'm a little early. But I get worried.

He had a review of ehcp about 6 months ago. I can't even remember what they said.

Generally he's working at year 1 level .

No - in fact it’s basically the opposite. My year 6 EHCP pupils have all got places at their preferred choices of schools. At their Yr Annual Reviews, we looked very carefully at secondary school provision, I commissioned reports from EPs and our local SEN advisory service and between parents and ourselves with the LA SEN officer, we decided on which schools would be best / preferred. 3 are going to special school, 1 to mainstream although the 1 going to mainstream is going against professionals advice and it is purely parental choice.

My advice to you is to make appointments to speak to the Senco’s of the schools youre considering, take along a copy of his EHCP and ask if they think they could meet his needs.

Reviews are generally a year apart, unless someone calls an emergency review, so there'll be another one in about 6 months. As he'll be half way through Y5, they will probably want to use that review to plan his secondary placement, so it would be good to start looking at options now, so you know where to ask for.

Thank you .that's a good idea.