This week children in Devon who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will find out which secondary school has offered them a place for September 2024.
It can be an exciting and yet anxious time for parents and carers as you will want to make sure the right decision has been made in the best interests of your child.
We’ve put together some information to help answer some questions you might have.
When do I find out which secondary school my child has been offered a place at?
Once a school has been agreed for your child, we’ll issue a Final Amended EHCP that names the agreed school for September 2024.
We have to do this by a national deadline, which this year is Thursday 15 February 2024.
You will receive a letter from us with information including the name of your child’s school place.
Why has my child not been allocated a place at their preferred secondary school?
Schools play a crucial role in ensuring that children with EHCPs receive appropriate support.
Although you can request a place for your child at a specific school, it’s not guaranteed as we have to check with that school that they have the resources and support available to help meet your child’s needs so that they can do well and enjoy their time at school.
Unfortunately, it may not be possible for your child to attend their preferred secondary school. This could be because the school has responded to say that:
- the school is not appropriate for your child’s special educational need
- if more places were agreed it could affect the efficient education of other children
We consider the schools’ response in detail before naming it in your child’s EHCP. If your child does not get a place at their chosen secondary school, please ask your caseworker for detailed reasons for the decision, as this will help you decide whether you would like to appeal.
What if I’m not happy with the secondary school my child has been offered a place at?
If you’re not happy with the school listed on your amended EHCP, please contact us to discuss. You can contact us by emailing specialeducation0-25-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
If after this, you’re still not happy, you can appeal to the Special Educational Needs Disability Tribunal.
Why hasn’t a school been named for my child?
Most children will receive a place at a named school. However, for some families it may be that Section I of your child’s EHCP names a type of school (mainstream or specialist) rather than an individual school setting.
This could be because your referred school has not yet responded to us to say that they can meet the needs of your child – this can sometimes take longer than expected.
Or, it could be because your preferred school is not able to meet your child’s needs and either an alternative has not been found yet or we are still discussing other options with you.
We understand that a delay in knowing which school your child has a place at is frustrating, but please be assured that we are working to confirm this information with you as quickly as possible.
Why has my child been allocated a place at a mainstream school rather than the special school I asked for?
All schools in Devon have access to support that enables them to be inclusive places that help children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to learn, build relationships, aspire, believe, achieve and fulfil their potential.
Where possible, most children and young people with SEND go to their local mainstream secondary school and remain part of their local community.
Places for special schools are limited; this is what makes them a special school as class sizes are kept low and the ratio of adults in those classes is greater. When we consult with special schools on whether they can meet the needs of an individual child, two factors are considered:
- is the school appropriate for your child’s special educational need?
- do all the places agreed allow for the efficient education of other children?
If your child has been allocated a place at a mainstream school, it could be because the special school you asked for is not considered appropriate for your child’s special education need, for example, if your child is more academically able.
For some requests in the Independent sector there must be a cost comparison between different schools.
My child’s EHCP names a school a distance away. Is there transport available?
Once your child has been allocated a school place, we will consider if they are eligible for school transport, and let you know if they are by May half-term.
If you have not heard from the team by then, or if you would like to make contact earlier, please phone our Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1019 or email schooltransportservicequeries-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
Exact transport arrangements for your child will be confirmed before the August bank holiday weekend, ahead of the start of the new school year in September.
Please visit our website for more information, including guidance on transport to secondary school for children and young people with SEND.
Why do children with EHCPs find out their secondary school place earlier than those without an EHCP?
Children with an EHCP have admissions priority, so knowing their places by Thursday 15 February enables schools to work out how many other places they have left to offer children without an EHCP.
Also, if parents disagree with the school placement, finding out by Thursday 15 February gives them enough time to seek advice and to appeal the decision if they want to, so a solution can be agreed before the start of the new school year in September.