Information about the secondary school application process for children who do not have an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan can be found on the Southend-on-Sea City Council website.
Moving to a new phase of education with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan)
If your child has an EHC Plan you do not need to complete the usual admissions application when your child is preparing to move from one stage of education to another.
Moving to a new stage of their education is often called a phase transfer and happens when your child moves from:
- early years setting to school
- infant school to junior school
- primary to secondary school
- secondary school onto post-16 or 19 provision.
The phase transfer process
The process begins when your child is:
- in their last year at their pre-school setting
- year 2 if they are transferring to junior school
- year 6 when transferring to secondary school
- year 11 when thinking about post-16 options
The Annual Review
When your child moves to a new key stage it is important to have enough time to plan the move well.
Each year your child's current setting must hold a review meeting for the EHC plan called the annual review.
In the last year at your child's current setting the annual review should take place during the autumn term to discuss future placements as well as review the EHC plan. There should always be an annual review of the EHC plan before a transfer to a new phase of education.
Amended EHC plan
Once the annual review has been held and submitted, the SEND Team will review the EHC plan and make any required amendments. They will send you a copy of the amended EHC plan.
You will be asked to comment on the amendments to your child's plan and will be given an opportunity to request the name of the next school or setting. Parents usually do this once they have had the chance to attend open evenings or visit the schools or settings.
For young people looking for post-16 opportunities they can apply for multiple courses at multiple colleges. More advice can be found here.
The SEND Team will send a copy of the amended plan to your preferred school or setting.
Finalising the amended EHC plan
The SEND Team must tell you which school or setting they will be naming and issue you with an amended final EHC plan by the 15 February before the transfer in September, or by 31 March if your child is in Year 11.
They will always try to follow your wishes but sometimes that may not be possible. The SEND Team will stay in touch with you during this process and until a final amended EHC plan is issued naming the next school or setting.