Please note: If your child does not have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP), even if they are being assessed for special educational needs or an EHCP, you should submit a preference for a school place via our mainstream admissions page.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school application process
Most children with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), can be appropriately supported in mainstream schools. However, if your child has more complex needs it may have been agreed that they require a place at a special school or a mainstream school with a specialist centre
The SEND Admissions arrangements for children and young people with an EHCP have been revised. These changes will apply to those children and young people who will transfer to Reception, Year 3, Year 7 and Year 12 in September 2023. The arrangements have been updated in response to feedback from families, schools and other key stakeholders who asked for the process to be simplified.
Key deadlines for confirmation of placement or types of provision
| Transition Group | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Nursery Year to 0 (Reception), Year 2 to Year 3, Year 6 to Year 7 | 15 February 2023 |
| Year 11 to Year 12 | 31 March 2023 |
Overview of SEND school age admissions process
| Date | Description of activity |
|---|---|
| By end of summer term (year preceding transfer) | Transition reviews to be held and next placement type discussed with children and young people and their families. EHCP's amended following review where applicable. |
| October | Placements for children and young people already attending all through maintained special schools, which are still deemed suitable, will be considered for continuation with the exception of our LAN schools. |
| November | Consultations undertaken for current Year 6 requiring mainstream provision and allocations of special school places taken place. |
| December | Consultations undertaken for children going into reception/leaving an infant school or centre resource requiring mainstream provision and allocations of special school places taken place. |
| February | Children and young people with existing EHCPs, will have their final EHCPs issued, with placements for September or type of provision confirmed in their EHCP, in line with the Code of Practice. |
Children with an EHCP in an all-through school
All-through schools are those that combine at least two stages of a child's education – typically primary and secondary – in one establishment
If your child is currently in Year 2 in an all through primary mainstream or maintained special school, then this process does not apply, and your child will remain at their current school unless a change of placement has been agreed following the most recent annual review.
If your child is in Year 6 and in an all through maintained special school, your child has the option to remain in their current school unless a change of placement is agreed at the annual review.
Transition to new school placement
The new process for transitions requires you to discuss your aspirations for your child at their transition annual review and to also consider where your child's needs would be best met for the next key stage of their education. The transition review often happens alongside the annual review or in place off and your child's current education setting will be arranging this.
Mainstream provision
The majority of children with EHCPs are educated in Surrey mainstream schools. As part of this process, you should identify the nearest school you would want your child to attend. Surrey is committed to young people attending their local school and being part of their local community.
Specialist provision
For some children and young people, more specialist provision will better meet their needs and the type of specialist provision should be discussed at the transition review.
Requesting a school place
Please see the SEND Admissions Guidance for information on school placement requests and allocations.
Additional information
- Read about home to school transport for under 16s.
- You can refer to our guides: Finding the Right Primary School in Surrey and Finding the Right Secondary School in Surrey.
- The Directory of Surrey schools lists maintained schools and academies, including specialist schools and specialist centres.
- The list of independent schools and non-maintained special schools on GOV.UK covers schools in the country that are registered with the Department for Education and charge fees for placements for children with SEND.
- Contact SEND Advice Surrey for impartial advice on submitting a preference for a school place.
- Our Local Offer website provides support and advice for children and young people with SEND.
- Visit our Family Information Service webpages for further information on services available for children with SEND.
Area offices
- South West Area Office covers Guildford and Waverley Telephone: 01483 517890 or email: swsen@surreycc.gov.uk
- North West Area Office covers Woking, Runnymede and Surrey Heath Telephone: 01483 518110 or email: nwsen@surreycc.gov.uk
- South East Area Office covers Mole Valley, Tandridge, and Reigate and Banstead Telephone: 01737 737990 or email: sesen@surreycc.gov.uk
- North East Area Office covers Spelthorne, Elmbridge, and Epsom and Ewell Telephone: 01737 737940 or email: nesen@surreycc.gov.uk
Moving into Surrey
When you move, your child's EHCP (along with all other documents relevant to your child's SEND, for example your child's individual education plan) will be transferred to us from the local education authority where you live. We then become responsible for making sure your child receives the support outlined in the EHCP. We will have six weeks to decide whether to review the EHCP and/or make any new assessment. It may be that the move means your child is now too far away from the school named in the EHCP to attend it and we will need to name a new school. In this instance, we may need your child to go to a school of our choice temporarily, to allow enough time for you to visit schools and discuss your options.
We will always consult with you over changes to your child's EHCP and you can express a preference for a school.