Moving in or out of a Camden school for young people with SEND
When looking for a school in Camden, especially for a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), it's important to visit different schools to get a sense of the environment and see which one best supports your child's needs. We have a variety of mainstream schools, as well as specialist schools for children with more specific SEND and an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
When moving to Camden and applying for a school place for your child, it's important to have proof of a Camden address. You'll need to show one of these key documents:
- a recent utility bill (such as gas, electricity, or water) showing your name and the address
- a current council tax statement showing your name and the address
- a signed copy of your tenancy agreement
- a letter from your solicitor confirming the completion date of your house purchase if you’ve recently moved into a property
Moving to Camden with an EHC plan
1. Let us know
Once you've confirmed your new address in Camden, contact our SEND team.
2. Responsibility for the EHC plan is moved to us
After you move, we'll take responsibility for the provision in your child's EHC plan. Your previous local authority has 15 working days to transfer the EHC plan to us. If you tell them 15 working days ahead of the move, the transfer must happen on the day you move. We'll have 6 weeks from the date of transfer to notify you that the EHC plan has been transferred and when we'll review it.
3. Request a preferred school
You can still request a preference for a mainstream or special school, as specified in the EHC plan. If your child is attending an independent setting, Camden may not decline to pay the fees or otherwise maintain the child at an independent or non-maintained special school or a boarding school named in an EHC plan unless and until the plan has been amended.
4. Annual review of the EHC plan
We must review the EHC plan within either 12 months from the EHC plan being made or last reviewed, or 3 months from the date of the transfer, whichever is the later.
5. A case officer is assigned
A named SEND case officer will be assigned to your child to oversee the process and they'll get in touch with you.
If you're in the middle of a transition, it’s important to stay in close communication with both your previous local authority and us to ensure the smooth transfer of services for your child.
Moving into Camden without an EHCP
All Camden schools are legally required to support children with SEND, and they have the capacity to do so. You'll need to apply for a school place via the admissions service. We're proud to offer SEND support within all of our mainstream schools and ensure they are inclusive environments.
If you need help with applying for an in-year admission, contact the admissions service. If you have questions about support in a specific school, contact them and ask to speak to their Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENCo).
Moving out of Camden with an EHC plan
If your child has an EHC plan and you're moving out of the borough, it's important to tell our SEND team as soon as you have a confirmed moving date so that the process to transfer the plan to your new local authority can begin. Explore the Local Offer website of the new Local Authority for more information on their arrangements.