Phase transfers are transitions for children and young people with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Information to support young people transitioning can be found on our supporting your transitions page.
Transitions can be an anxious time for parents and their child or young person, in order to support with transition, parents’, educational staff and any other relevant professionals involved with the child or young person should work together to ensure that the correct support is provided.
It may be helpful to consider the following to support transitions:
- Transition meetings can be held to discuss the individual needs of the child or young person and what strategies are supportive. It allows the team around the child to come together to ensure a smooth transition.
- Sharing the child’s SEN Support Plan / EHCP, outcomes, and any additional relevant information
- Regular visits to the new setting
- A photo book of the setting and key staff members to look at over the summer holidays may be helpful
- The opportunity to meet key members of staff
- A visual timetable
Please find further information to support transitions:
National Autistic Society transition helpline:
The transition support helpline/case work service provides advice and support to young autistic people and their families on making the transition from school, further or higher education to adult life.
You can access the service here.
Phase Transfer:
For all children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans in Early Years, Year 2 and Year 6 it is the local authority’s statutory duty (where a child/young person is not in an all through educational setting) to secure an appropriate placement for their next phase of education. In order to achieve this, we work with the parents/ carers and the appropriate future setting from when the child/young person is in Year 1 and 5.
The EHC Service have contacted parents/carers to inform them of the process for this year including that the LA will consult a child's nearest school for placement in September 2025. Alongside this, parents were able to share their preferences for consultation as well. Consultations with schools will then take place and parents/carers will be notified by 15 February in the calendar year of the transfer into or between schools. For example for children starting or transferring school in September 2025, parents would be notified by 15 February 2025.