If your child has an EHCP or you think they may need one, the school-choice process works differently from a standard application. This guide explains naming a school, requesting SEN support without an EHCP, and questions worth asking every setting.
If your child already has an EHCP
Parents and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan have the right to request a particular school, and the local authority must name it in the plan unless specific legal reasons apply — most commonly that the placement would be unsuitable or an inefficient use of resources.
Requesting a school is different from a standard preference; it happens through the EHCP process itself, usually during an annual review or a plan amendment, so timing matters.
A request under an EHCP follows a different process from ticking a preference on the standard application form.
- Check your plan’s review date and any deadline for requesting a change of school.
- Ask the school directly what provision it already has in place for your child’s needs.
- Keep written records of every request, meeting and response — these matter if you need to challenge a decision later.
If your child does not yet have an EHCP
Many children receive support through a school’s ordinarily available SEN provision without ever needing a formal plan. If you are unsure whether to request an assessment, ask the school’s SENCO what support is already available and how progress is monitored.
You can still apply through the standard admissions process while requesting an EHCP needs assessment separately — the two processes run alongside each other, not one after the other.
- Ask directly: “What would my child’s support actually look like in a normal week?”
- Request examples of how progress is tracked and reported to parents.
- Find out how the school works with outside specialists, such as speech and language or educational psychology services.
Questions worth asking every school
Generic reassurance is common at open days; specific detail is more useful. Ask questions that relate directly to your child’s needs rather than requesting a broad description of “SEN support”.
- How are transitions between lessons, breaks and the start/end of the day supported?
- What training do staff have in my child’s specific need, and how recently?
- How does the school communicate with parents about setbacks, not only progress?
- What happens if the agreed support is not working after a term?
If you disagree with a decision
You have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal if a local authority refuses to assess, refuses to issue a plan, or names a school you disagree with. Mediation is also available and is often faster than a full tribunal hearing.
Keep every letter and email. Timelines for challenging a decision are strict, so act as soon as you receive a decision you want to question.
- Check whether your child has, or may need, an EHCP, and note any relevant review dates.
- Ask the SENCO at each school what provision is already in place, with specific examples.
- Keep a written record of every request, meeting and decision.
- Note appeal or mediation deadlines immediately if you disagree with a decision.
Keep the journey moving by comparing schools, checking deadlines and saving the guide that matches your route.
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