Applying to secondary without an EHCP - exceptional SEMH need?

[wtftodo]

Applying to seconary schools for y6 DD to start September 2025. There is a school which is perfect for her in terms of pastoral care, size, academic support etc however we live too far. They do have a category for "exceptional social emotional or medical need" but looking into it, this seems even harder to prove than an EHCP is to secure.

She has situational mutism and anxiety, and school has referred her (in Y5) for an autism assessment but that's at least a year away still. She has also been referred to CAMHs but again we have not seen anyone yet. So there are no doctors / consultants / psychiatrists / other professionals who can write a report.

I am belatedly realising I should have asked about an EHCP years ago. At this stage, though, we are missing deadlines - if we secure an EHCP in the next year would that still potentially enable us to name a specific school for her? Or is it now or never?

The back up school is nice and has some support but not to the extent of the other school, which is exceptional. It is not as strong for high ability children (which she is) and it is twice the size. She would also need to change locations for year 10 onwards which is already causing her anxiety (because the school is across three locations).

I'd appreciate any advice! Thank you

Just to add more detail about her needs: she cannot speak to adults she doesn't know, and struggles even with extended family and well known adults. She cannot make eye contact with adults she doesn't know and skilfully disguises it with people she does know. She shuts down in groups, noisy environments, perfomances, etc and it affects her learning, her ability to join in activities she loves, her friendships and more. I can see how much better she would settle into the smaller, more nurturing school, which would hopefully minimise the chances of her anxiety escalating to school refusal.

You should request an EHCNA now. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. Still make a secondary application via the normal admissions process. If an EHCP is issued at a later date, you will still get the chance to name your preferred placement. Any school named in the EHCP would then override any offer made via the normal admissions process.

For the exceptional social emotional or medical need oversubscription criteria, you will need evidence that only that school is suitable. It will need to say “In my opinion…” rather than “Mum says…” You will need strong evidence because all schools are expected to be able to meet the needs of DC with SM, anxiety and ASD.