Child with EHCP who is due to start or move school

Phase transfer guidance for a child with an EHCP

This guidance is for families with a child who: 

• has an education, health and care plan (EHCP)
• is due to start primary, junior or secondary school in September 2026 

Children with EHCPs have a separate school admissions process for moving to a new school. This process is known as a phase transfer. 

If your child does not have an EHCP, use the mainstream admissions process to apply for a school place. 

Phase transfer timeline 

By end of July 2025 

Phase transfers will have been discussed at your child’s EHCP annual review meeting.  

September 2025 

We write to families to ask which school you would prefer your child to attend. 

October 2025 

Please let us know by 31 October 2025 which school you would prefer.  

Tell us if your child has a sibling who currently attends the school you have requested. This will be taken into account when we allocate places, as long as the school is appropriate for your child’s needs.

We will start speaking with:

• the school you have told us you would prefer
• the nearest appropriate school we have identified for your child 

February 2026 

By 15 February, we must tell you which school or type of school we will be naming and issue you with an amended final EHC plan. 

March to August 2026 

In a small number of cases, we will name a type of school or setting, but will not be able to name a specific school by 15 February. For these families, we will continue to speak to education settings and will give you regular updates while we find the right setting for your child.