A change of school

6:30. All concerned with the child should give careful thought to transfer between phases.  Advance planning is essential.  The move should be considered at the review meeting during the child's last year in his or her current school.  If necessary, that review should be brought forward to allow sufficient time for consideration of the school which will be appropriate for the child in the next phase.  Arrangements for a child's placement should be finalised by the beginning of the child's last term before transfer.  It is important for placements to be finalised as early as possible in order for any advance arrangements relating to that placement to be made and to ensure that parents feel confident and secure about the arrangements in question.  Secondary and primary schools in an area should consider developing a common system of record-keeping to ease transfer of pupils between schools.

6:31. Under paragraph 8 of schedule 10 of the Act, parents have the right to request the LEA to substitute the name of a maintained, grant-maintained or grant-maintained special school for the name of the school in Part 4 of the statement.  The LEA must comply with the request:

? so long as it is made more than 12 months after

_ a similar request

_ the issue of a final copy of the statement

_ the issue of an amendment to the statement

_ the conclusion of an appeal to the SEN Tribunal over the provision specified in the statement,

whichever is the latest

? and so long as

_ the school is suitable for the child, and

_ the child's attendance at the school would be compatible with the efficient education of other children already there and with the efficient use of resources.

6:32. If these conditions apply, the LEA must amend the statement to name the school proposed by the parents and inform the parents, within eight weeks of receiving the request (Regulation 14(5)).  Before naming the school, the LEA must first consult the governing body, and, if the school is maintained by another authority, that LEA.  The eight week time limit allows for this consultation.  The LEA may specify in the statement the date on which the child is to start attending the new school.  That date might coincide with the start of a new term, or give sufficient time for the school to make necessary preparations for the child's arrival.

6:33. If the LEA conclude that they cannot name the school proposed by the parents, they must tell the parents, in writing, of their right to appeal to the Tribunal against the decision and should also explain why they have turned down the request.  This letter should also be sent to the parents within eight weeks of their initial request (Regulation 14(5)).  If the child is due to transfer between phases, the LEA must name a school which will be appropriate for that