RIASS Redbridge
What does Phase Transfer mean?
Phase Transfer is when young people move between phases of education. These happen at the following stages:
The SEND regulation 2014 states that the Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) must be reviewed and amended before:
When does preparation start?
Preparation begins in the penultimate year before your child moves to their next stage of education, this is in year 10. This is when options might have started being researched based on the young person interests and aspirations.
Parents/ carers and young people should be contacting Post 16 settings as early as Year 9 or Year 10 to be able to make an informed decision by the Autumn term of Year 11.
The Local Authority will ask for the Post 16 education preferences for the young person, which we ideally would like by the end of October. Having them by the end of October means that we have the best chance of securing the desired place at college. This is especially true with young people from other boroughs also having their EHCP’s sent to their preferred settings around this time of year.
The young person and parent/carer should attend the year 10 Annual Review and coproduce the amended draft EHCP with the school and EHC Coordinator including providing Section A. All young people, where able, should be attending their Annual Reviews to provide their views.
When will the Phase Transfer Annual Review take place?
The Year 10 Phase Transfer Annual Review should take place during the Year 10 Summer / Year 11 Autumn term.
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.
The year 10 Annual Review should take into account and explore the next phase of education or learners’ progression in preparation for Post 16 education.
Do I have to give college preferences?
Yes, parents / carers and young people must make a request for preferences. The SEND Team will always consult with the most appropriate local provision, with or without parental/ young person preference.
Preferences can be part of the Annual Review discussion in Years 10/11. The SEND Team also sends out Post 16 preference messages to families during the summer term in Year 10.
Do I have to apply for college myself?
Yes, young people must also go to the college and engage with their enrolment process.
When will I know which Post 16 education setting has been confirmed?
Local Authorities are required by law to ensure that EHC plans are reviewed and amended before 31st March in the young person’s Year 11. This is why we start the review process between Summer/ Autumn Term in Year 10. You will be kept informed throughout the process, and we will be working to finalise the young person’s EHC plan before this date.
If I attend a 2 year or longer course, will I be able to stay or is it reviewed each year?
The EHCP is reviewed each year. If the young person is on a 2- or 3-year course it is expected that they complete the 3 years.
The college place is only 3 days a week, what happens on the other 2 days when I am not in education?
It will be dependent on the course and college; most mainstream colleges are 4/5 days. If the young person gets support from social care, they can explore options for social care provision on those days.
Young people can also check the Redbridge Local Offer for available services.
What is the support like at college? Will I get the same support in college as I did in secondary school?
While the delivery of provision in Post 16 settings may differ from that of secondary school, the college’s duty is to provide in full the support outlined in Section F (provision) of the EHCP.
What happens if the college does not meet the provision in Section F of the EHC Plan?
The SEND team will liaise with the college to ensure that all provision in Section F is being delivered.
At the point of consultation (when we ask colleges if they can meet a young person’s needs), the college can express their concerns about provision in terms of what they can and cannot deliver. The SEND team will work with the college to ensure that provision is met.
EHCPs are reviewed annually to ensure the provision remains relevant to the young person.
What happens if the college I want says no?
The SEND Team will review all consultation responses and liaise with the college regarding suitability. Parents/carers and young people have the rights to request mainstream, academy, FE colleges or non-maintained settings. Once the EHCP is finalised naming by type or a setting you will have the right to appeal that decision through the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal (SENDIST).
Why can’t I progress to the current school's 6th form?
Young people can progress to stay at the 6th form attached to their school. However, they would still have to make an application and make the required grades. It is unlikely that young people will be able to attend the 6th form if the course they want is not available.
The SEND Team will consult with Post 16 setting preferences requested by the young person and/or parent/carer.
What happens if I do not get the grades for the course I want?
The SEND Team will send the appropriate consultations to other Post-16 settings.
What happens if the course is not suitable after I start it?
Parents/ Carers and young people should have a discussion with the college to see if a transfer of course is available.
What if I change my mind about the post-16 setting, I originally wanted to attend?
If you change your mind about attending a setting, let the SEN Team know and we can send a consultation to your new preference.
Do I have to attend a Post-16 setting?
All young people have to participate in some form of education, training, or employment with training until they are 18. These include the following options:
Can I get home-to-school travel assistance? Do I have to apply for transport again if I receive it to go to school now?
You may be able to receive home-to-school travel assistance, but it is not automatic. The young person must meet the criteria set out in the Local Authority’s transport policy.
Redbridge FSD & Local Offer | SEND Travel Assistance (Redbridge)
I’m not sure if mainstream college is appropriate for me.
Parents/ carers and young people have the right to request mainstream, academy, FE colleges or independent / non-maintained settings. Parents/ carers and young people should start to explore suitable setting from Year 9 onwards.
Get in touch with your local mainstream college to discuss your concerns.
What if my nearest college is out of borough/? Can I ask for a 6th form/college that’s in Redbridge but isn’t my closest setting?
Young people and their parents have a legal right to request a setting they deem to be suitable. There is, however, no legal duty requiring the LA to provide free school or college transport to young people of sixth form age, as it is expected that most young people will be able to travel to their post 16 setting independently. If you are considering a post-16 setting outside of the borough and would like to request travel assistance Redbridge's transport policy statement can be found here.
Redbridge FSD & Local Offer | SEND Travel Assistance (Redbridge)
What if I don’t agree with the LA decision?
Once The SEND Team have named a post-16 setting in the EHCP the parents and young person will have the right of appeal upon receiving the Final Amended EHCP.
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
What if I don’t get a college/6th form place?
Beginning the process in the summer/ autumn term will ensure that every young person in Redbridge has a suitable placement for post-16. The Local Authority has a legal obligation to ensure that provision in the young person's EHC plan is secured. In the unlikely event that a suitable setting has not been identified your EHC Coordinator will work with you to discuss the available options whilst a placement is secured.
I’ve heard of “naming by type”. What does this mean?
Local Authorities can lawfully name by type 'mainstream / special' if an appropriate setting has not yet been identified. Your EHC Coordinator will continue to work with you to identify a setting. Once this is found we will ensure the young person’s EHC Plan is amended to name the setting. Naming by type ensures the parents/carers and young person still receive their right of Tribunal appeal.
I have recently moved into Redbridge how do I apply for 6th forms/colleges?
The previous Local Authority should send the Redbridge SEND Team the young person’s EHCP and any other relevant paperwork. Your Redbridge EHC Coordinator will contact you to let you know next steps.
Young people should make an application directly to the college.
Which colleges/6th forms are fully accessible for disabilities?
Young people should check the college website for accessibility information.
Which colleges have a specialist SEN pathway?
Young people should check the college website for available SEN courses.
Young people can liaise with Redbridge Connexions for support.
Where can I go to for further advice?
Connexions
The Redbridge Connexions Team provides careers information, advice and guidance on further education, training (apprenticeships) and employment options, to young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), young people at risk of becoming NEET and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Team work with young people aged 15 to 19 (up to age 25 for young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities) who live in Redbridge.
A telephone service or online/face to face appointments.
Telephone: 020 8708 2600
Email: connexions@redbridge.gov.uk
RIASS
You can obtain free impartial advice and support from the Redbridge Information, Advice and Support Service (RIASS). They can be contacted on:
Telephone: 020 8708 8922
Email: rias@redbridge.gov.uk
We hope this document helps to answer your questions, however, should you have any further queries, please contact the SEND Team:
Telephone: 020 8708 8210
Email: SENDTeam@redbridge.gov.uk