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Transferring between Key Stages of education if your child has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Published
Phase Transfer describes when a child or young person moves from one stage of education to another.
The Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) team, SENDIASS and Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum have come together to provide a helpful guide to Phase Transfer for children and young people with EHCPs.
What is Phase Transfer?
When a child or young person moves from one stage of education to another, this is called a Phase Transfer. Phase Transfers happen whenever a child or young person makes the following transitions in their educational journey:
- early years setting to school
- infant school to junior school
- primary to secondary school; or
- secondary school to post-16 settings.
What happens during Phase Transfer for children and young people with an EHCP?
Children starting school or transferring to secondary school with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) follow a different admissions process to those without an EHCP. This ensures that the new school can provide the right support for their additional needs.
Moving to a new school or further education setting can be both an exciting and anxious experience for many children, young people, and their families. However, when your child or young person has an EHCP, the process can be particularly worrying as you may not be sure how a new setting will meet your child or young person’s needs.
The EHCP case coordination team will work with parent carers to identify an appropriate school. They will guide you through the transfer process and answer any questions you may have.
It may help to discuss your school choices and the Phase Transfer process with the SENCO at your child's current school or setting.
When the time comes, the SEND Casework Team at Gloucestershire County Council (the council) will follow the processes below.
What happens for children with an EHCP?
If your child is moving from an Early Years setting to primary school
In the September two years before your child is due to start at primary school, you and your child start to consider what will be your preferred school for primary. You may wish to attend open days at different schools and settings with your child to help with this.
In February and March, the annual review of EHCP takes place. This is when your child’s EHCP is reviewed and updated ready for consultation with primary schools. The current Early Years setting sends the annual review paperwork to the council together with your preferred school(s) for primary school Reception year.
From April to September of that year, the council amends your child’s EHCP and sends it to you for your comments. At this point, the primary school is not named.
From June to December, the council uses the amended EHCP to consult with your preferred school, local mainstream school and any other appropriate schools.
No later then February 15 in the year of transfer the council names the primary school for Reception year on the amended final EHCP.
From March to July the transition visits to and from new school can be arranged by your child’s Early Years setting.
In September your child starts their new school (it may be possible to delay or defer for one year). This marks the beginning of your child’s primary phase of education in Reception year.
If your child is moving from primary to secondary school
In September of Year 5 two years before your child is due to start at secondary school, you and your child start to consider what will be your preferred school for secondary / Year 7. You may wish to attend open days at different schools and settings with your child to help with this.
In February and March of Year 5, the annual review of EHCP takes place. This is when your child’s EHCP is reviewed and updated ready for consultation with secondary schools. The current primary school sends the annual review paperwork to the council together with your preferred school(s) for secondary / Year 7.
From April of Year 5 to September of Year 6, the council amends your child’s EHCP and sends it to you for your comments. At this point, the secondary school is not named.
From June of Year 5 to December of Year 6, the council uses the amended EHCP to consult with your preferred school, local mainstream school and any other schools.
No later then February 15 of Year 6 the council names the secondary school for Year 7 on the amended final EHCP.
From March to July of Year 6 the transition visits to and from new school can be arranged by your child’s primary school.
In September your child starts their new school. This marks the beginning of your child’s secondary phase of education in Year 7
If your child is moving from secondary school to a post-16 setting
In September of Year 10 two years before your young person is due to start in a post-16 setting, you and your young person can start to consider what will be your preferred post-16 setting for Year 12. This is helped by you and your young person visiting college open days.
In February and March of Year 10, the annual review of EHCP takes place. This is when your child’s EHCP is reviewed and updated ready for consultation with post-16 settings. The current setting sends the annual review paperwork to the council together with your preferred colleges / post-16 settings.
From April of Year 10 to September of Year 11, the council amends your young person’s EHCP and sends it to you for your comments. At this point, the post-16 setting is not named.
From September to December of Year 11, the council uses the amended EHCP to consult with your preferred post-16 setting and local post-16 setting.
No later than March 31 of Year 11 the council names the post-16 setting on the amended final EHCP.
From March to July of Year 11 the transition visits to and from your young person’s new setting can be arranged by your young person’s secondary school.
Where can I find more information and where can I get additional support?
For more information or support, please contact:
- the SENCO in your child’s current school or setting; or
- the EHCP casework team: 01452 426922.
For more information on EHCPs, please visit Support for Families with SEND, Gloucestershire's Local Offer. You can access the EHCP Phase transfer to secondary school leaflet, which shares helpful information on how the EHCP Phase Transfer process works, answers key questions that you might have.
SENDIASS
If you need additional support, SENDIASS offers free, confidential and impartial advice to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parent carers.
Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum
Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum provides opportunities to parents and families with SEND to join informal gatherings such as Listen to Me meet-ups and training events on Phase Transfer, delivered by SENDIASS.
Listen to Me events offer the chance to connect with other parent carers to chat about experiences of Phase Transfer and much more over a cuppa (the first drink is free). For more information on forthcoming Listen to Me events, please see their article.
General Admissions
General admissions not related to an EHCP can be found here
Want to know more about Phase Transfer and EHCPs in Gloucestershire? Please visit Support for Families with SEND, Gloucestershire's Local Offer.