Admission to primary school for children with Educational Health and Care Plans (EHC Plans)
Children with EHC Plans go through a different admissions process, whether that is into a mainstream or special school.
Once a request for either a new admission or transfer is received, the Local Authority responsible for managing that child's EHC Plan has to formally consult with the Head teacher and Governors of the requested school before a EHC Plan is issued naming that school.
What can children with SEND expect on transition to primary school
The Early Years team work closely with all the Early Years providers and professionals across the city to ensure that children with special needs receive the support they need, particularly on transition into school.
Some children may have been in receipt of additional support whilst attending their pre-school setting. Where this is the case the Early Years Access and Inclusion Officer – Area SENCO or Inclusion Support Offer, will liaise with all agencies involved to arrange and support transition meetings and create a bespoke transition plan for the child.
Each plan will be unique to fit the needs of the child and may include a number of additional visits to the school prior to their starting date.
If a child has an EHC Plan, parents can make a preference for a particular school they wish their child to attend. The Local Authority (Hull City Council) will then consult with the school and the Area SENCO will liaise with the school, setting, parents and other agencies to ensure a smooth transition takes place.
All children moving on to primary school from a pre-school setting will have an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) transition document. Children with special needs will also have a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transition document which will be shared with parents and handed over to school.
This sets out who has been involved with the child, identify any individual targets the child has been working on, and highlights any special requirements or particular difficulties the child may have.
Which schools meet your child's needs
All schools have their own websites where they publish details about their schools and their provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
If having visited their website you wish to know more about what is available and if it will be right for your child, phone the school and ask to speak to the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) or arrange a visit. It is often useful to visit more than one school so you can feel confident of making the right choice.
You can access our directory of schools that are in and around Hull.