If your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan or a statement of special educational needs (SEN) there is a separate process for your child's school admission:

1. Our Education, Health and Care Team will send you a letter seeking details of your school preference
2. You will be asked to return your preference within 15 days
3. You will be informed of the outcome of this consultation by 15 February of the year in which you're applying

If you disagree with this decision, you can then appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND) by visiting our Mediation and disagreement resolution page.

What if an education, health and care statutory needs assessment is in progress?

Primary school applications

• If your child has an education, health and care statutory needs assessment in progress you will need to complete a preference form and apply for a primary school place in the usual way.
• If you think that your child has special needs and they are not currently attending an early years setting please contact the Information, Advice and Support Service for SEND in Northamptonshire. A member of staff will put you in contact with one of the Early Years Support Teachers who will be able to assist you.
• If your child has special needs and they are attending an early years setting, please discuss your child’s school place with the named Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo). The headteacher or teacher-in-charge or manager of the early years setting will be able to let you know who this is and how to contact them.

Secondary school applications

• If your child has an education, health and care statutory needs assessment in progress you will need to apply for a secondary school place in the usual way.

Which schools have SEN provision?

You can use the schools directory to search for schools that have an SEN provision or offer specialist support.

How do schools help?

Schools will try to make adjustments to accommodate children who have special educational needs but not all schools are accessible for children who have mobility or sensory difficulties.

We advise parents to discuss their children’s special educational needs with a member of staff at their preferred school before applying.

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC)

From 2014, Statements of Special Educational Needs are being replaced by Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans over a three-year period.

In each school's oversubscription admissions criteria, reference is made to 'pupils who have a statement of special educational needs'. As the legislation changes, this will also mean any pupils with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

To find out more visit our Education, health and care plans page

Admissions to Post 16: see below