SEND local offer - SEN and Engagement Service Guide to Primary and Secondary Transfers

Wherever possible and reasonable to do so, the Local Authority always aims to name the parent's preferred school. However, this is not always possible and at times, schools are unable to admit children with EHC Plans for one of the following reasons:

• it would be unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the child or young person
• the attendance of the child or young person there would be incompatible with the efficient education of others, or the efficient use of resources

If, in their response to consultations, schools can satisfy the Local Authority that one of the above reasons has been met, then that school cannot be named in the child's EHC Plan. If all three of the parental preference schools offer a placement, the Local Authority would first consider the suitability of the school placements and second, the cost of these placements when making a decision on which school to name.

It is the law that the Local Authority must give consideration to unreasonable public expenditure when agreeing school placements for children with an EHC Plan. Therefore, although it is not the first consideration, school costs must be considered.

An example of this is below:

In the example shown above, parents' second choice of school (School B) would be named by the Local Authority, as it is in area and suitable to meet the needs of the child.

If all three schools consulted do not feel they are able to offer a place, it may be that further consultation requests need to take place and the Local Authority may identify alternative schools to consult or further discussion with one of the schools consulted and preferred by parents takes place. These decisions are made by the Education, Health and Care Panel, who make all decisions in relation to placements for children with EHC Plans.

On occasion, the Local Authority may issue a plan with a type of school named on 15 February. This is to allow additional time to secure the correct provision for a child. If this is the case, contact will be made with the parent (or social worker if it relates to a Child in Our Care), prior to receipt of the EHC Plan. Every effort will be made to secure a suitable school placement as soon as possible following this date.