10-09-2025 Choosing a Secondary school for your child with additional needs

This information is intended to help with Choosing a Secondary School for your child with additional needs. It is particularly useful for parents whose children are due to start secondary school next year (date of birth between 1.9.14 and 31.8.15) but should also be helpful if your child is currently in years 4 or 5 and you want to start thinking ahead about the transition. 

Our Voice held two online workshops in conjunction with SENDIASS and the Enfield SEN Team during September and October, looking at choosing a secondary school for children with SEND – what to think about and what the processes are. 

Key information and dates

(see also Local Authority’s website page)

·            Children whose date of birth is between 1.9.14 and 31.8.15 will be due to move to Secondary School in September 2026.

·            Enfield mainstream schools are holding open evenings between 15^th September and 13^th October 25 – dates are available in this booklet. Talk to the individual schools directly if you need more information. 

·             For children with an EHCP. A letter and preference form will be sent to you before the end of September 2025 with your child’s proposed amended EHCP. You will then have 15 days to reply with your two preferences – the final deadline will be 17^th October. The process of consultations with the schools will then begin and continue until 15^th February.

·             More information about the process for children with an EHCP can be found in the Local Authority's booklet' Secondary Transfer Process for children with an EHCP: Information for parents/carers'.  

·             For children without an ECHP, applications must be submitted by 31st October and offers will be confirmed on 2^nd March 2026.

·       Admissions-guidance-for-Enfield-special schools booklet gives information about all special schools and other specialist provisions in Enfield.

·             Details of mainstream schools in Enfield can be found in the ‘Guide to Secondary Schools in Enfield’. 

Information and Resources 

You can see the presentation from our sessions on choosing a secondary school here. This also includes links to lots of other relevant information (especially slides 19 to 21).

You may also find it useful to look at these resources for preparing for the transfer to secondary school.

• Information from Contact (the Charity for families with disabled children) on Applying for a school place,  Finding the right school and  Top tips to help when your child changes school.
•   Guide for parents  from the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
•             Guide for children from the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (Easy Read) 
•      Downs Syndrome Association Easy Read Guidance on Transitions 

Additional guidance:  

•     Guide for teachers preparing Autistic children for the transfer to secondary from the Advisory Service for Autism 
•    Guide for teachers supporting children with SEND to transfer to secondary school
•    Things I could say to start a conversation when making new friends