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Transitions with an EHCP
Moving between phases of education is the most common time that parents, carers or young people have to think about what school or college should be named in the EHC plan.
There should always be an annual review of the EHC plan before a transfer to a new phase of education (see our Annual Review page)
The main educational phase transitions are:
- early years to primary school
- primary to secondary school
- secondary school to further education (college/sixth form) or employment
SEN support should include planning and preparation for the transitions between phases of education and preparation for adult life. To support transition, the school should share information with the school, college or other setting the child or young person is moving to. Schools should agree with parents and pupils the information to be shared as part of this planning process. Where a pupil is remaining at the school for post-16 provision, this planning and preparation should include consideration of how to provide a high quality study programme – SEND Code of Practice 6:57
Regulation 18 of the SEND Regulations 2014 requires that the EHC plan must be reviewed and amended before—
(a) 31 March if the transfer is from secondary school to a post-16 institution
(b) 15 February in any other case, or
(c) If a young person is moving from one post-16 institution to another post-16 institution at any other time, at least five months before that transfer takes place.
Transition Process in Greenwich
Transition to Primary
Applying for a school if your child has an EHC Plan:
- Parents will be supported to state their preference for a Primary School at the FS1 annual review of the EHC Plan in the Autumn term
- In December the schools will respond to the consultation and you will be informed of the outcome, If necessary, further schools will be consulted
- In January final decisions about school placement are made
- By 15th February the final EHC Plan will be sent out
Transition to Secondary
Applying for a school if your child has a statement of SEN/EHC Plan:
- Parents will be supported to state their preference for a secondary school at the Annual Review in Year 5 of their statement of SEN/EHC Plan
- Between the review and September of year 6, if your child has a Statements of SEN it will be converted to an EHC Plan
- You will be involved in this conversion and will receive a copy of the proposed EHC Plan
- In October of year 6 the Local Authority will consult with the schools of your preference
- In December the schools will respond to the consultation and you will be informed of the outcome, If necessary, further schools will be consulted
- In January final decisions about school placement are made
- In mid-February the final EHC Plan will be sent out
- Induction days are typically organised by secondary schools at the beginning of July, prior to secondary transfer, to give students a “taster” day of being at secondary school. Some outreach services provide additional supported sessions to aid the transition process.
Preparing for Adulthood / Post 16
It is important to plan and prepare for transition as part of a child or young person's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support. They should be planned for as early as possible so that all relevant information can be shared to prepare the new school or setting.
From Year 9 onwards, the local authority has a duty to make sure that the annual review meeting “consider[s] what provision is required to assist the child or young person in preparation for adulthood and independent living” (Regulation 20(6) and Regulation 21(6) of the SEN and Disability Regulations 2014).
Local authorities must ensure that the EHC plan review at Year 9, and every review thereafter, includes a focus on preparing for adulthood. It can be helpful for EHC plan reviews before Year 9 to have this focus too. (SEND Code of Practice - 8.9)
EHCP's - Examples of good practice from year 9 and beyond
You can also check out our Post 16 page for more information on your options after secondary school.
Useful links
Greenwich Local Offer – Education and Schools