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The arrangements for secondary school transfer for pupils
with Statements of Special Educational Needs are not the same as
those for children who do not have Statements.
If you have (or caring for) a child with a Statement of Special
Educational Need, you will need to read the following admissions
arrangements carefully.
The LA is responsible for arranging provision for
children with Statements and, when the LA names a maintained school
in a child's Statement, the school must admit the
child.
SEN Code of Practice
The SEN Code of Practice says that if you want your child to
have a mainstream education, the LA must name or describe a
maintained, mainstream school in your child's Statement, unless
this would be incompatible with the efficient education of other
children with whom your child would be educated.
The LA must ask you if you wish to express a preference for a
particular maintained school (including special) and the LA must
comply with that preference unless:
- the school is not suitable to your child's age, ability,
aptitude or special educational needs, or
- the placement would not be compatible with the efficient
education of other children with whom your child would be educated,
or
- the placement is not an efficient use of resources.
If you chose not to express a preference, the LA will name the
maintained mainstream secondary school that is closest to your
child's home and that can meet his or her needs.
Before the LA can name a school in your child's Statement, it
must consult with the school concerned and must take account of the
views of the school before deciding to name the school. If the
school is in the area of another Authority, then the LA must also
consult the relevant Authority as well as the school.
In order for the LA to consider whether a school would be
suitable for your child, it needs to take account of any special
arrangements that need to be made and to determine if these
represent an efficient use of resources. The LA and/or school must
take reasonable steps to ensure that a maintained mainstream school
is accessible, but there is no obligation to make adaptations or
provide equipment. If these are required, the LA would normally
look to another school where they were available.
If you decide you would like your child to attend a
non-maintained school (that is a school not funded by a Local
Authority), you do to have the right to express a preference for
it. However, you do have a right to make representations and the LA
must consider those representations but will always take account of
what represents the most efficient use of resources provided it
meets your child's needs.
The LA must amend your child's Statement by 15 February in the
year that he or she is due to start secondary school (that is,
during Year 6). The secondary school named in the amended Statement
will be expected to attend your child's Year 6 Annual Review in
order to make arrangements for his or her effective
transfer. |