Contents
- Introduction
- Review of EHC plan for school admissions
- Find and research a Surrey school
- Travel assistance
- How school places are allocated
- Final EHC plan and offer of a school place
- Appealing
- Key admissions dates
- Help and support
Most children with an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan are educated in mainstream schools with the appropriate support.
However, if your child has more complex needs, it may have been agreed that a place at a mainstream school with a specialist centre attached, or a specialist school may be more appropriate.
Find a school
Mainstream schools with specialist centres
Our mainstream schools with specialist centres cater for children with the following categories of need:
- Moderate learning difficulties (MLD) or specific learning difficulties (SpLD) previously referred to by Surrey as learning and additional needs (LAN)
- Sensory impairment (SI).
- Hearing impairment (HI)
- Autism Specific Disorders previously referred to by Surrey as social communication and interaction needs including Autism Spectrum Condition (High COIN).
- Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) previously referred to by Surrey as speech and language needs (Low COIN).
Specialist schools
Our specialist schools cater for children with the following categories of need:
- Social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).
- Severe learning difficulties (SLD) or profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) previously referred to by Surrey as severe learning and development difficulties (SLDD).
- Moderate learning difficulties (MLD) or specific learning difficulties (SpLD) previously referred to by Surrey as learning and additional needs (LAN).
- Autism Specific Disorders previously referred to by Surrey as social communication and interaction needs including Autism Spectrum Condition (High COIN).
- Autism Specific Disorders previously referred to by Surrey as complex social communication needs (CSCN).
More information
For an in depth information of the different types of specialist schools and specialist centres, and the of needs they support, please see the following web pages:
Search our Directory of Surrey schools by name, location, or type. You can also use the Special Education Needs (SEN) option known as the Specialist SEN provision (optional), to find mainstream schools with specialist centres attached, or a specialist schools.
You can find your nearest Surrey schools by using our Surrey map.
If there is evidence that your child requires the support provided in a specialist school or specialist provision for example a specialist centre attached to a mainstream school, then the nearest appropriate specialist school or provision to your child's home address will also be calculated.
Your child's SEND Case Officer, or other professionals can help you find a specific school.
Every school has a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). They work with teachers and parents to make sure the needs of children with SEND are met by the school, efficiently and effectively.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) will help you find out more about the diverse types of schools, and the range of facilities and expertise that are available. This could include the presence of occupational and speech-and-language therapists, and the types of sports and physical education (PE) facilities provided.
You can also find out from them about additional support available to help pupils take part in activities, outings, and other social and cultural events.
Research a school
Visit any school that is suitable for your child’s age, ability, aptitude and need, by contacting them directly to arrange a time to visit.
A school's contact details can be found on their website. This may also include details of their opening days or evenings, which you can attend. You can also read the school’s brochure.
Please see our Directory of Surrey schools for a list of schools, their websites and contact details.
You can find out how Ofsted inspect schools and their inspection reports for schools on the Ofsted web site.
Our Directory of Surrey schools, also has links to latest Ofsted reports for each school.
Look at a school's website to find out their mission, curriculum, extra- curricular activities and support services, especially their SEND policy, end of key stage results and achievements.
Read our SEND Information Report, which sets out how schools should apply their SEND policy in practice.
It is important to consider how your child would get to and from school. Your child will normally only be eligible for travel assistance if they are attending the nearest appropriate school.
Find out more about travel assistance.