Primary Phase Transfer - FAQs

What does Phase Transfer mean?

Phase Transfer is when a child or young person moves between phases of education. This includes moves from:

• Early years education to school
• Infant school to junior school
• Primary school to middle school
• Primary school to secondary school
• Middle school to secondary school

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Regulations 2014 requires that a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is reviewed and amended for children in the above listed categories before 15 February in the calendar year of the transfer at the latest for transfers into or between schools.

When does preparation start?

Preparation begins in the penultimate year before your child moves to their next stage of education. This means:

• Nursery 1 (the year before the final year of nursery) – for children moving into Reception
• Year 1 – for children moving from infant to junior school
• Year 5 – for children moving from primary to secondary school

This is a good time to start looking at different schools or settings so you can understand what may be right for your child.
This gives you time to:

• Attend visits and open days
• Ask questions
• Consider whether a school can meet your child’s needs

Starting early means you’ll feel more confident when choosing preferences.

When will the Phase Transfer Annual Review take place?

The Phase Transfer Annual Review will usually take place in the summer term, of the penultimate year, before your child moves to their next stage of education.

What is my role in the Annual Review?

You should attend the review meeting. During the meeting, you will work with your child’s school and your EHC Co-ordinator to coproduce your child’s EHCP.
You will also contribute to Section A, which includes your views and your child’s views.

How does the Annual Review link with the Phase Transfer process?

The Annual Review is an important part of the Phase Transfer process. It should take into account and explore the next phase of education and your child’s progression in preparation for their next phase of education.
It helps ensure that your child’s EHCP:

• Reflects their progress
• Updates their strengths and needs
• Sets out the support they will require in their next phase of education.

This helps the Local Authority identify the most appropriate placement for your child.

When will the Local Authority ask for my preferences?

During the summer term of the preparation year (Nursery 1, Year 1, or Year 5), the Local Authority will ask you to share the school(s) or setting(s) you prefer for your child.

Do I have to give school preferences?

Yes, parents/ carers are expected to tell the SEND Team their preferences.
The Local Authority will consult with the schools you give as preferences. We will also consult with the most appropriate local provisions.
If you do not give any preferences, the Local Authority will still consult with appropriate local schools to identify a placement that can meet your child’s needs.

Can I ask for a school in Redbridge that is not my closest school?

You can choose any school in Redbridge as your preference, even if it is not the nearest one to your home. The Local Authority will consult the schools you list to see if they can meet your child’s needs.
If you choose a school that is further away, it is helpful to tell the SEND Team how your child will travel to and from school, as this will be considered as part of the process.
The Local Authority will also consult other suitable schools.

Can I request an independent school?

You can ask for an independent school as one of your preferences, and the Local Authority will contact them as part of the consultation process.
Please be aware:

• Independent schools that charge fees will let the Local Authority know the cost of a place.
• The Local Authority must make sure that the school named in Section I of the EHCP is not an inefficient use of resources.
• Independent schools on the Department for Education’s Section 41 approved list follow the same rules as mainstream and special state schools when it comes to EHCP consultations.
• The Local Authority will also consult other suitable schools.
• The Local Authority will only name an independent school if:
  • it can meet your child’s needs and
  • the cost is not an inefficient use of public resources.
• Transport is not automatically provided and, you may be responsible for arranging and paying for transport. Redbridge's transport policy statement can be found here: Redbridge FSD & Local Offer | SEND Travel Assistance (Redbridge)

Can I request a grammar school?

You can request a grammar school as one of your preferences, and the Local Authority will consult the school as part of the process.
Grammar schools have selective entry criteria. This means:

• Your child must meet the school’s aptitude or selection requirements (for example, assessments or testing used by that grammar school).
• A grammar school can only be named in an EHCP if it is suitable for your child’s age, ability, aptitude and special educational needs, and if naming the school would not be an inefficient use of public resources or incompatible with the efficient education of others.

The Local Authority will take these factors into account when deciding whether the grammar school can be named in your child’s EHCP.

When will I know which school has been confirmed for my child?

The Local Authority must ensure that EHCPs are reviewed and amended before 15 February in your child’s phase transfer year. This ensures you have the confirmed placement well before the September start.

I have recently moved into Redbridge and my child with an EHCP is in their phase transfer year. How do I apply for schools?

When you move into Redbridge with an EHCP, your child’s previous Local Authority will send over their EHCP and all relevant documents.
To help the process run smoothly, please:

• Notify Redbridge SEND Team of your move as soon as possible, so we can begin the transfer process.
• Tell the Redbridge SEND Team your school preferences as early as you can, so consultations with your preferred schools can start promptly.
• Remember that the same statutory deadline applies — the Local Authority must issue the final amended EHC plan with Section I completed by 15 February of the phase transfer year.

What happens if I move out of Redbridge during the phase transfer?

If you move out of Redbridge during the phase transfer year, your child’s EHCP will transfer to your new Local Authority.

• Redbridge will send your child’s EHCP and all relevant documents to the new Local Authority.
• The new Local Authority becomes responsible for your child’s plan as soon as you officially move into their area, and they will progress with the phase transfer for your child so that a placement is named by 15 February.

To help avoid delays, please:

• Inform Redbridge SEND Team as soon as you know you are moving with the date of the move and;
• Contact your new Local Authority as early as possible to share school preferences and provide any additional information they may need.

If my child is in a nursery attached to a primary school, do they still count as being in phase transfer?

Yes. Even if your child attends a nursery that is attached to a primary school, they are still part of the phase transfer process when moving into Reception.
Although the nursery is linked to the primary school, the Local Authority cannot assume that the primary school will automatically agree to be named in Section I of your child’s EHCP.
You should still:

• Tell the SEND Team your school preferences, and
• The Local Authority will carry out consultations with the schools you list as well as settings the Local Authority deems appropriate.

My child goes to an all through- primary and secondary school. Do they still count as a phase transfer?

Yes. Even if your child attends an all through- school (a school that covers both primary and secondary phases), they still count as going through a phase transfer when moving from primary to secondary education.

Will my child/young person get the same support in secondary as they did in primary?

Secondary schools are organised very differently from primary schools. This means that while your child will continue to receive the support written in Section F of their EHC plan, the way that support is delivered will not look exactly the same as it did in primary.
Primary schools are generally much smaller, with fewer pupils and more consistent staffing throughout the day. Secondary schools are larger and operate with subject teachers, different, classrooms, and a wider timetable. This gives secondary schools more flexibility, but it also means that support is delivered in a different way.

I’m not sure if a mainstream school is appropriate for my child.

If you are unsure whether a mainstream school is the right setting for your child, we encourage you to visit and explore different types of schools. Redbridge has mainstream schools including those with Additionally Resourced Provisions (ARPs), and special schools.
Visiting different schools can help you:

• Understand how each setting supports children with different needs.
• See the environment, structure, and daily routines.
• Ask questions about how support is delivered and what provision looks like in practice.

Exploring different settings early on will help you make an informed decision about what may work best for your child.
You can find more information about the types of schools in Redbridge here: Redbridge FSD & Local Offer | Education providers in Redbridge

What is an Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) and how can my child attend one?

Some mainstream schools in Redbridge have extra specialist staff, resourced and dedicated spaces to support children with specific types of special educational needs. This type of support if called an Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP).
A placement in an ARP is still a mainstream school placement, but with additional support.
Children who attend an ARP usually:

• Take part in mainstream lessons for some of the school day, and
• Spend time in the ARP base, where they receive more targeted or specialist support.

The balance between time in mainstream and time in the ARP depends on your child’s needs and the arrangements set by the school.
To attend an ARP, your child’s needs must match the type of provision offered by that ARP (for example speech, language and communication needs, Autism Spectrum Condition, hearing impairment, etc.). The Local Authority will consider whether an ARP can meet your child’s needs as part of the EHCP consultation process.
More information on ARPs within Redbridge can be found in the follow link: Redbridge FSD & Local Offer | Special Schools

Can I get home-to-school travel assistance?

You may be able to receive home-to-school travel assistance, but it is not automatic. Your child must meet the criteria set out in the Local Authority’s transport policy.
For full details of the criteria and how to apply, please visit: Redbridge FSD & Local Offer | SEND Travel Assistance (Redbridge)

What if I don’t agree with the placement that the Local Authority name in my child’s plan?

If you don't agree with the school or setting that the SEND Team names in your child’s EHCP you have the right to appeal.
You can appeal once you receive the final amended EHCP, which includes the named placement in Section I.
You have the right to appeal this decision to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).
To do this, you must register your appeal within two months of the date on your decision letter, or within one month of receiving a mediation certificate (if you choose to try mediation first) — whichever is later.
You can find information on how to appeal here: www.gov.uk/appeal-ehc-plan-decision

Further guidance for parents and carers, including the appeal application form, is available here:
First tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability)GOV.UK

If you need to contact the Tribunal directly, you can use the details below:
First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) 1st Floor, Darlington Magistrates Court Parkgate Darlington DL1 1RU
Email: send@justice.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 303 5857