Finding and applying for a school

Deciding which school is the best fit for their child is a big decision for any parent. Parents and carers of children with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) want to make sure that their child receives the right level of challenge and support to enable them to achieve their potential.

Most children with SEND are educated within mainstream schools. All children and young people with SEND have the right to be educated in a mainstream setting if this is what they want, unless this would be incompatible with the education of others.

However, some children and young people with more complex needs may prefer to be educated in a special school or a specialist centre within a mainstream school.

If your child already has an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, you can discuss with your SEND Case Officer what type of support is best for your child. You can also find out more about the options available for your child in the brochures below.

• Finding the right primary school in Surrey for a child with an EHC plan
• Finding the right secondary school in Surrey for a child with an EHC plan

Applying for a school place for a child with SEND without an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan

If your child does not have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, you must use the mainstream admissions process to apply for a school place.

• Apply for a primary school place in Surrey (using the mainstream school admissions process)
• Apply for a secondary school place in Surrey (using the mainstream school admissions process)
• Apply for a school place in-year (using the mainstream school admission process)

If your child is in the process of an EHC needs assessment, you should still apply for a school place using the mainstream schools admissions process.

Mainstream schools should give children with additional needs extra, targeted support where possible. Your child does not need an EHC needs assessment to receive this support, which is known as the 'school-based core offer'. Each school must explain on its website what support it offers.

If you want to learn more about the support available for your child at their school, you can speak to the school's Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO). You can also find general information about Surrey state schools and academies in the Directory of Surrey schools.

Applying for a school place for a child with an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan

In response to feedback from families, schools and other key stakeholders who wanted the process to be simplified, Surrey County Council updated their school admissions arrangements for children with an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan in 2021.

You can read the revised school admissions guidance for children with an EHC Plan here.

Parents of children with an EHC plan should see the Choosing a school place for a child with an EHC plan page on the Surrey County Council website for more information.

Parents can also speak to your child's SEND Case Officer or the Special Educational Needs coordinator (SENCO) at your child's school.

Useful websites

The organisations below can offer impartial advice to help you support your child's education.

• SEND Advice Surrey provides information, advice and support to parents of children with SEND throughout the child's education.
• Contact's education specialist advisers can help with any questions you may have about a child's education.