Choosing a school

Whether or not your child has a statement of special educational needs, you have the right to express a preference for a school for your child. You will probably find it helpful to visit several schools and speak to teachers and parents about their experiences. If the school has policies on medical conditions, disability, inclusion or special educational needs, you can ask for copies of these. This type of information may help you decide how well the school will support your child. Representatives of the local parent partnership service should be able to discuss your choice with you, and may be able to visit the school with you, if you want. You may also wish to seek help and advice from a friend, relative, or a voluntary organisation. The contact details of some organisations specialising in education and SEN are in the directory at the end of this guide.

If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs, part 4 will be left blank on the proposed statement to allow you to suggest a choice of school. If you wish your child to be placed in a particular mainstream school or maintained special school, the authority must abide by this as long as the placement is:

• appropriate for your child’s needs (age, aptitude, abilities and special educational needs);
• compatible with the interests of other children already at the school; and
• compatible with the efficient use of the authority’s resources.

If the authority decides not to name your first choice of school, it should explain its decision in writing. The authority may propose an alternative school: it may recommend a school nearer to where you live, if it believes that school meets your child’s needs. There is more information about particular types of school, such as residential or denominational schools or City Academies on pages 108-110 of the SEN Code of Practice (England) and pages 107/109 of the SEN Code of Practice for Wales. These documents are available from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (England) and National Assembly for Wales (Wales).

• More information about the Codes of Practice and how to get copies
• Epilepsy awareness project for primary schools