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What is a Phase Transfer?

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Phase Transfer describes when a child is starting school, or moving to a new phase of education e.g. moving from Nursery to Primary, Primary to Secondary School and from Secondary School to post-16 settings.
Two feet standing on a playground with chalk arrows in all directions

Children starting school or transferring to secondary school with an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan follow a different admissions process to those without an EHC plan to ensure that the new school can provide the right support for their additional needs. 

What happens for children with an EHC Plan?

For children moving from their Early Years setting to Primary School, the following timeline applies:

Timeline from Early Years setting, to the start of Primary school in Reception.

Year -2 September to January:

You and your child consider what will be your preferred school for Primary. This is helped by you and your child visiting Primary school open days.

Year -2 February to March:

 

Annual Review of EHCP, 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 Local Authority together with your preferred school for Primary School Reception year.

Year -2 April to September Y -1:

The Local Authority amends your child’s EHCP and sends it to you for your comments. At this point, the Primary school is not named.

Year -1 June to Reception yr 0 December:

The Local Authority uses the amended EHCP to consult with your preferred school, local mainstream school and any other appropriate schools. Year -1 No later then February 15th: The Local Authority names the Primary school for Reception Year on Amended Final EHCP

Year -1 March to July:

Transition visits to and from new school arranged by your child’s Early Years setting

Year -1 September: 

Beginning of your child’s Primary phase of education

 

For children with an EHC Plan moving from Primary to Secondary School, the following timeline applies: 

Timeline from Year 5 to the start of secondary school in Year 7

Year 5 September – January:

You and your child consider what will be your preferred school for Year 7. This is helped by you and your child visiting secondary school open days.

Year 5 February – March:

 

Annual Review of EHCP, 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 Local Authority together with your preferred school for Year 7.

Year 5 April – September Y6:

The Local Authority amends your child’s EHCP and sends it to you for your comments. At this point, the secondary school is not named.

Year 5 June – Year 6 December:

The Local Authority uses the amended EHCP to consult with your preferred school, local mainstream school and any other appropriate schools. Year 6 No later then February 15th: The Local Authority names the secondary school for Year 7 on Amended Final EHCP

Year 6 March– July:

Transition visits to and from new school arranged by your child’s school

Year 7 September: 

Beginning of your child’s secondary phase of education

Following Annual Review of the EHC Plan, The Local Authority, must send parents the Amended Final EHC Plan naming the school to be attended by February 15th.  The Amended Final EHCP takes the place of the Secondary Transfer Allocation letter which informs children, without an EHCP, about the secondary school they have been allocated and are sent out on March 1st and the Primary School allocation letter which is sent out March 31st.

 

For young people with an EHCP moving from Secondary School to post-16 settings the following timeline applies

Timeline from Year 10 to the start of post-16 education in Year 12

Year 10 September – January:

You and your child consider what will be your preferred school for Year 12. This is helped by you and your child visiting secondary school open days.

For more information on Post-16 transport options, please refer to the Local Authority Post 16 Travel Policy Statement 2024/2025  on the Local Offer 

Year 10 February – March:

 

Annual Review of EHCP, when your child’s EHCP is reviewed and updated ready for consultation with secondary schools. The current primary school sends the Annual Review paper work to the Local Authority together with your preferred post-16 setting for Year 12.

Year 10 April – September Y11:

The Local Authority amends your child’s EHCP and sends it to you for your comments. At this point, the post-16 setting is not named.

Year 11 June – Year 11 December:

The Local Authority uses the amended EHCP to consult with your preferred post-16 setting, your local post-16 setting, and any other appropriate post-16 settings. Year 11 No later than March 31st: The Local Authority names the post-16 setting for Year 12 on Amended Final EHCP

Year 11 March– July:

Transition visits to and from new post-16 setting arranged by your child’s school

Year 12 September: 

Beginning of your child’s post-16 phase of education

 

Where can I find more information and where can I get additional support?

For more information or support please contact;

  • Your child’s current primary school SENCO
  • The EHCP Casework team: 01452 426922

You can access this Phase Transfer Leaflet, which shares helpful information on how the Phase Transfer process works, answers key questions that you might have.

You can also find helpful information around Education and Care Plans, on the EHCP Advice and Guidance page on the GlosFamilies Directory and Local Offer. The Phase Transfer leaflet can also be downloaded from this page.

If you need additional support, SENDIASS offer free, confidential and impartial advice to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parent carers Tel: 0800 158 3603 or 01452 427566

https://sendiassglos.org.uk

General Admissions 

General admissions not related to a EHC Plan can be found here

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