It is a good idea to start thinking about secondary school places by the time your child starts year 5. You will need to apply for a place at secondary school when your child starts year 6, usually between September and October.
If your child has a current education, health and care plan (EHCP), you do not need to apply for a school place. Your child's EHCP will name the school they will go to. If you are in the process of obtaining an EHCP but one has not yet been issued, you should apply for a school place using the standard process and await the outcome of the EHCP.
Support in schools
Transition to secondary school may bring up feelings of worry for your child if they have SEND, as secondary schools are typically much larger, with pupils moving between multiple teachers and classrooms throughout the day. Schools should have a plan in place to support this move, which may include extra visits to the school to meet key staff members.
Like primary school, you should visit the school and try to meet with the special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) to discuss what support is available.
Our SEND Hub can provide you with information on what support is available to you and your child.
ECHP
Your child may already have a education, health and care plan (EHCP) in place before they start secondary school. The plan outlines a pupil's special educational needs, the provision required to meet those needs, the outcomes they should be working towards and how it will be measured. You can find out more information about EHCPs on our SEND Hub
Your child may be seen by our Educational Psychology Service, usually as part of an EHC needs assessment.
In addition, the sensory support service provides educational support to:
- children and young people with hearing loss and/or a vision impairment from birth to age 25
- their families
- their educational settings
You can find out more about the sensory support service on our website.
If your child has mental health needs, you can find out about the Mental Health in Schools teams on our website, as well as other information to support your child.
If your child has certain medical conditions, disabilities or an EHCP, they may be entitled to help with transport to school.