SEND school admissions

All children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) can go to a mainstream school.

School places for children with SEND

How you apply for a school place or choose which school your child goes to depends on whether they do or do not have an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Without an EHCP

If your child or young person does not have an EHCP, you can follow the normal school admissions process when applying for a school place.

Find out more about the school admissions process.

All mainstream schools and colleges must have help in place to support a child or young person with SEND. 

With an EHCP

If your child or young person has an EHCP, you can say which education provider you prefer.

You can do this when we are drafting the EHCP, or as part of an EHCP annual review.

We will consult with education providers before naming them in an EHCP.

We will name your or young person’s preferred education provider in the EHCP, unless they are not suitable for your child or young person’s needs.

Find out more about how education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments works.

Moving to a new stage of education

Find out more about what happens when your child moves from one stage of education to another, such as from primary to secondary school, on transition: moving schools and through education.

Delaying your child’s school start date

Children reach compulsory school age the term after they turn 5.

If your child is still 4, you can:

• delay your child’s admission to school until later in the school year
• ask to send your child to school part-time

Find out more about when your child can start school on starting infant or primary school ages 4 - 5.