It can be quite a worrying time for parents when their child starts school, especially if the child has special educational needs (SEN).
Knowing which school will be best for your child can be hard.
On this page are some ideas which might help you make this decision.
The Hounslow SEND Local Offer website also has information about how to choose a suitable educational setting:
Checklist for checking schools
All schools will have copies of their most recent Ofsted inspection report and governors’ report to parents available for you to read.
Before arranging a visit:
- Go online and read the school prospectus or ask the school for a copy.
- Look online at the school’s information report for information about how they support pupils with SEN and disabilities (SEND).
- Carefully think about and write a list of questions that you would like to ask.
- When would you like to visit? (It is best to visit during school hours.)
- Will you be taking your child?
- Do you want someone to go with you?
- Is the school easy to get to? Think about transport arrangements.
- Will you be able to meet staff who would be involved with your child?
- Will you be able to talk to other parents of children at the school?
- Think about questions you might want to ask when you visit.
Questions for the school
You might want to ask:
- Is the teaching flexible enough for your child to take part in as much of the curriculum as possible?
- Are all the areas of the school accessible to your child or would adaptations be necessary? For example, wheelchair access, ramp, wide doors.
- Are there any other children in the school with similar special educational needs and disabilities to those of your child? If so, has their placement been successful?
- If your child needs help with things like collecting lunch at lunchtime and changing for PE, how will the school provide this help?
- Do the class locations change for every lesson? If so, does your child need help getting from one to another? What can the school offer if they do?
- Does your child require any therapy (for example, physiotherapy)? If so, how would this be managed?
- What support or activities are available during break time and lunchtime?
- Do you need to make appointments to speak to teachers?
- How will your child travel to and from school?
- What will the school do to make sure that all the staff know about your child’s individual needs?
- What should you do if you feel your child is not making progress or if you have any concerns?
- What happens if the staff feel that your child is not making adequate progress?
- How would the other children be helped to understand your child’s special needs?
- How would your child be helped to make friends?
- When and how often are children taught out of the classroom?
- How does the school arrange extra support for children who need it?
- How does the school deal with bullying?
- How does the school make sure that all children have equal opportunities to take part in school trips?
- How would your child be encouraged to take part in out of class or school activities such as clubs or sports events?
- How are parents kept up to date about what is happening in school? For example, termly reports, a regular newsletter.
- How would the school help your child get to know the school routine, especially in the first few days after starting?
After the visit:
Discuss your thoughts and feelings about the school with someone else and consider:
- Did you feel welcomed at the school?
- Did the children seem happy, friendly and helpful?
- Do you think your child would be happy at the school?
- Did the school answer all your questions?
- Have you got any other questions you would like to ask the school?
- Do you feel happy and comfortable with the thought of sending your child to that school?
Important steps to consider
If your child has significant SEN
You may want to start planning the change of school well in advance. You could:
- contact schools and ask for information about how they work with children who have SEN
- visit schools two years before your child is due to transfer
- speak to the SENCO about SEN provision in the school
- talk to other parents or pupils about the schools
- talk to professionals who work with your child about the schools
- talk to teachers in your child’s present school and ask them for their views about what your child needs and which school might suit your child
- start to talk about secondary schools during review meetings in Year 5
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the Year 5 annual review should begin to look ahead to secondary school
At the review in Year 6 the SENCO from the secondary school should come to the meeting so they have a chance to find out what support your child might need.
Visiting the new school
All secondary schools provide information for parents and will have open days in the autumn term. This is when parents can visit the school. It is a good idea for parents to:
- visit all the schools your child could attend
- take your child to the open evenings
- talk to your child about the schools
- ask your child for their opinion
- allow them to share in deciding which school they should go to
Further information
The IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) website explains how to select a placement with or without an EHCP:
You can download our factsheet on this topic: