Choosing a School with SEND

Types of education settings

There are several types of schools and settings that can support children with SEND:

• Mainstream schools — most children with SEND attend mainstream schools with SEN Support or an EHC plan.
• Special schools — for children whose needs cannot be met in mainstream, usually requiring an EHC plan.
• Alternative provision — education arranged for children who cannot attend their usual school, including unregistered providers like Senique.
• Further education and post-16 settings — colleges, sixth forms, and specialist post-16 institutions.

What to consider

When choosing a school for a child with SEND, think about:

• The school's SEN Information Report — every school must publish one, explaining how they support SEN.
• The environment — is it calm, predictable, and sensory-friendly?
• Staff expertise — do they have experience of your child's specific needs?
• Class sizes and staffing ratios.
• Pastoral support and how the school manages behaviour.
• Accessibility — physical access and reasonable adjustments.

The admissions process

If your child has an EHC plan, the school is named in the plan through the EHC needs assessment or annual review process — not through the usual admissions system. The local authority must consult with the named school before issuing the plan.

If your child does not have an EHC plan, you apply through the normal admissions process, and the school must make reasonable adjustments to support them.

If you do not get your preference

If you are not offered your preferred school, you have the right to appeal. For children with an EHC plan, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. For children without a plan, you can appeal through the school admissions appeals process.

You can also ask to go on the waiting list for your preferred school, and in some cases, you may be able to ask the local authority to name a different school during an annual review.