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Choosing the right school for your family

Choosing the right school for your child or young person is a big decision, but also a very rewarding one. There is lots to consider at this time, but looking at your child’s needs and how they are best supported can help you choose a school that is right for them.

What preparation can you do for you and your family?

There are lots of things you can do to help you feel confident when deciding which school or setting your child or young person should go to. You can do things like:

Research different schools and settings

You could do this by:

  • speaking to your current school SENCo (sometimes called an InCo) about their views on potential schools 
  • using our online school directory to find out about the different schools in your area
  • comparing the schools performance results on gov.uk - remember schools and settings shouldn't be judged solely on good exam results
  • having a look at the school's websites - specifically their SEN Information Report and SEND Policy to learn more about how they deliver SEND provision. You can also look at other important documents on the school's website such as their accessibility plan, their medical needs policy and/or their behaviour policy
  • talking to other parents about a specific school, or joining parent forums or support group networks to ask for parents opinions - remember that experiences may differ and it's also important to follow your own instincts
  • considering the location of the school – how will your child or young person travel to school? 
  • sibling’s schools – if they have siblings, where do they attend?  Think about how will this impact upon travel arrangements, relationships etc
  • catchment or feeder schools – will many of their peers or classmates also be attending? is it important to your child to have familiar faces at their new school?  

Visit the different schools or settings

It can be very helpful to visit the school for yourself, meet with key members of staff such as the SENCo or Inclusion Lead to talk about your child specifically and how the school can meet their needs.

Primary schools usually do guided tours for prospective parents in the winter whereas most secondary schools will do a single open evening, usually in the autumn term.

Many schools also now offer virtual tours of the buildings on their website.

During your visit it might help to:

    • share information about your child or young person's needs - this could help determine the level of support on offer.
    • speak to staff members and/ or the school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)
    • prepare a list of questions to take with you
    • visit more than one school so that you can compare their different approaches

Involve your child or young person

Involving your child or young person in decision making will help to make them feel at ease and hopefully happy in their new surroundings. When you begin looking for potential schools or settings you could ask your child or young person what is important to them.

You might decide to visit several schools to compare them and then make a short list to visit with your child.

You could ask the school questions like:

How many members of staff are there compared to children and/ or young people?

Are there any clubs or extra curricular activities?

How big are the classes?

Have you had any experience with a child and/ or young person with similar needs to mine? What training does your staff have?

What SEN provision can the school/ setting provide?

Does the school offer an induction package for children with SEND?

How is progress measured in your school?  How do children with SEND progress in your school?

How do you involve parents in the monitoring and planning of progress for children with SEND?

What support do you get from outside agencies for children with SEND?

Scope have also come up with a list of questions which you could ask

Number of children or young people with EHCPs

The tables above show the number of children and young people within each school that have an EHCP.  The tables are produced using census data and therefore will reflect the numbers at the moment that the census form was filled in by schools.  The numbers are likely to change as new pupils receive an EHCP and as pupils move in and out of the area.  We will aim to update this information twice a year. 

The information is intended to guide your thinking in choosing your preferred setting for your child to attend.  Please bear in mind that all schools support pupils with SEND: they must all have a SENCo and publish their SEN Information Report on their website.

Some mainstream schools will have a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) on site. These schools will have these pupils included in their figures.  Places at SRPs are allocated in the EHCP process.  Attending a mainstream school with an SRP does not mean your child will be able to access the SRP (unless it is specified in their EHCP). 

Types of schools and settings

If you suspect that your child or young person may need extra help in school or they have been diagnosed with additional needs, understanding the options available to you and what each school or setting can provide, will help inform your decision.

Visit our Education Options pages

The Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) details the different education options available to your child and/ or young person in the UK.

You may also wish to educate your child from home. This is called elective home educating and you can find out further information on our home educating your child with SEND page.

Information:

A school has no right to refuse a child or young person based on their needs, even if they feel that they are unable to provide for these needs. You can find more guidance on this in the School Admissions Code (pdf 558kb).

Choosing a school for pupils with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) 

If your child or young person has an EHCP it is possible to state in their plan which school or setting you would like them to attend.  This is done through the SEN service and you do not apply through the standard admissions process. 

If your child has an EHCP and is changing schools, you can find out more about this process on our EHCP review pages. All reviews, school consultations and amendments to an EHCP should be completed by 15 February for any year of change. This gives enough time to resolve any issues before the end of the summer term.

For those transferring from secondary school to college, the EHCP must be reviewed and amended by 31 March in the year of transfer.

If you have any questions about how to choose your preferred school then you can discuss these with your child’s current SENCo or your allocated Education, Health and Care Coordinator (EHCCo).  (More information about contacting your EHCCo). Your EHCCo will remain impartial and not recommend specific schools, but can advise you on processes or support in answering any questions you may have.  Sometimes schools/settings may raise concerns about being able to meet a child’s needs, but we can help by reviewing those concerns and looking at how they may be overcome.  The majority of children will have their needs met in mainstream schools and mainstream education cannot be refused on the grounds that it is not suitable.  

There is information and advice above which can help you choose the right school for your child. You can also find out more about choosing a school with an EHCP on the IPSEA website.

Learn about the different types of special schools, or request a place at a special school in Hertfordshire

Choosing a school for SEND pupils without an EHCP

If your child or young person does not have an EHCP (even if they do have a special education need), you will have to apply for a place at your chosen mainstream school through their normal admissions process. Special school places for children without an EHCP are only reserved for very exceptional circumstances. You can find more guidance on on this in the SEND_Code_of_Practice.

Find more information about how to start researching for schools in Hertfordshire, the options available to you and the admissions process on Hertfordshire.gov.uk.


Services and support

Hertfordshire SENDIASS

Hertfordshire SENDIASS is an impartial Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS).

Scope

Scope provides free practical information, advice and emotional support.

IPSEA

Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support.

Contact

Helps families feel valued, supported, confident and informed.

National Autistic Society

On the NAS website you'll find information about finding local schools, your child’s rights, the different types of school, and how to get the most out of school visits.