{"id":74358,"date":"2026-05-13T14:22:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/?page_id=74358"},"modified":"2026-05-21T15:56:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:56:30","slug":"year-6-to-year-7-phase-transfer-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/education-health-and-care-plans\/year-6-to-year-7-phase-transfer-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving to secondary school: Year 6 to year 7 phase transfer process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The following guidance will help you understand the &#8216;phase transfer process&#8217; that happens when your child is preparing to move to secondary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every child with an EHCP must have a \u2018phase transfer\u2019 review to prepare for their move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The expected timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The review meeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Schools have been asked to hold their year 5 annual reviews (also called a \u2018phase transfer review\u2019) in the summer term. This meeting helps us understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>your child\u2019s current needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>if the plan still reflects your child&#8217;s needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what type of secondary setting might be appropriate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You should receive at least two weeks\u2019 notice of this meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The meeting should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a representative from your child\u2019s local secondary school (where possible)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>discussion on any provision changes needed for secondary<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>agreement of outcomes for the end of key stage 3<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>clear indication of which school you feel would suit your child (your &#8216;parental preference&#8217;) for secondary placement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Updating the EHCP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once we receive the review report and associated evidence from professionals who know your child, we will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>update the plan to be ready for your child&#8217;s secondary phase of education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>refresh needs, outcomes and provision to ensure the plan is future-focused and appropriate for the next stage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We will also finalise the plan with your child\u2019s current school, with an end date for their current setting (end of year 6) and will continue working on naming a secondary setting for your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>If your child is already in a specialist setting, it is likely they will continue to access their specialist provision<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A phase transfer review should still be held to determine whether any changes to your child\u2019s outcomes, needs or provision need to be documented and that their placement remains suitable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consulting with schools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Consultations with mainstream schools<\/strong> &#8211; we will consult with designated mainstream secondary(ies) for all children and young people in a primary school setting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consultations with school of parental preference<\/strong> &#8211; we will consult with all schools of parental preference providing it is a maintained or independent Section 41 special school.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Naming a school for year 7<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Where a mainstream school can be named, we will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>aim to finalise the placement ahead of national deadlines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>update Section I to show current school end date and secondary school start date<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If specialist provision is requested as parental preference (Local Authority special school or a school with Section 41 approval), or appears necessary, a specialist triage team of multi-agency professionals will consider all evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If specialist provision is agreed, we will consult with appropriate special schools (Local Authority special school or a school with Section 41 approval) &#8211; they may arrange a visit or observation. This does not guarantee a place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If specialist isn\u2019t agreed, we will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>consider the support that might be needed within your child\u2019s local mainstream school to ensure that their needs can be met<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>explain this clearly to you as decisions are made and make sure you understand what will happen next<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When you will hear from us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can expect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>us to make contact once we receive the review paperwork to confirm your parental preference has been recorded<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>an updated EHCP within statutory timescales<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>regular updates if specialist assessment or panel involvement is required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a confirmed placement by 15 February, but earlier wherever possible<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to prepare for the phase transfer review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>gather recent professional reports or advice from health practitioners, if applicable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>visit your child\u2019s designated secondary school and other settings you may be considering so you have an informed parental preference<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get in touch with us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We want this process to be clear, reassuring and transparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the phase transfer process your child\u2019s EHCP partner is your main point of contact. If you have concerns, please speak to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Email <a href=\"mailto:ehcp@devon.gov.uk\">ehcp@devon.gov.uk<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phone <a href=\"tel:01392380434\">01392 380434<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Please quote your child\u2019s EHC Hub reference number in the email subject or when calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A leaflet version of this guidance is available to download and print: <a href=\"https:\/\/devoncc.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/PublicDocs\/Education\/IQAmoqVfpvYnSJA_3EplRP13AW7-6B8p5ZBDSKaxyi2Tj0A?e=dCmJTM\" rel=\"noopener\">Your child&#8217;s move to secondary school &#8211; a simple guide to the phase transfer process<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following guidance will help you understand the &#8216;phase transfer process&#8217; that happens when your child is preparing to move to secondary school. Every child [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":20381,"menu_order":23,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-step-content.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-74358","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-31 04:59:03","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/74358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74358"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/74358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74499,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/74358\/revisions\/74499"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}