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  • Choosing a school or college
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  3. Choosing a school or college

Choosing a school or college

The law recognises the importance of parents or carers and young people being able to choose their educational setting as far as possible. Getting the right setting can be very important for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN).

There are a number of different types of school: mainstream and special, and those which are under local authority control and those which are not. If you want a particular school, it is important to know what type it is.

All children and young people with SEN are entitled to a mainstream education, if that is what their parents, or they, want – please see below for more information.

The process of choosing a school will be different depending on whether the child or young person has an education, health and care (EHC) plan or not.

Types of schools and other settings

Types of schools and other settings

Schools and other institutions use various descriptors, for example infants, junior, primary, secondary, but in order to determine which parts of SEND law apply, you will need to know which category the school falls into Read more

Published: 29th March, 2018

Updated: 23rd May, 2024

Author: Emma Brock

The right to a mainstream education

The right to a mainstream education

Where a young person or parent of a child with SEN, wants a place in a mainstream setting it must never be denied on the basis that mainstream is unsuitable, or that their needs or disabilities are too great or complex Read more

Published: 28th March, 2018

Updated: 24th May, 2024

Author: Emma Brock

Selecting a school or college

Selecting a school or college

The process of choosing a school or college for a child or young person with SEN differs depending on whether they have an EHC plan or not Read more

Published: 27th March, 2018

Updated: 23rd May, 2024

Author: Emma Brock

Home education and ‘education otherwise’

Home education and ‘education otherwise’

For some children or young people, school or college may not be suitable, and they may need to be educated at home or elsewhere Read more

Published: 20th March, 2018

Updated: 19th December, 2025

Author: Emma Brock

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Most read

  • Asking for an EHC needs assessment

    Asking for an EHC needs assessment

  • Template letters

    Template letters

    Download and make changes to our template letters to fit your situation

  • Template letter 1: making a request for an EHC needs assessment

    Template letter 1: making a request for an EHC needs assessment

  • EHC needs assessments

    EHC needs assessments

    An EHC needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person’s education, health and care needs

  • Advice Line

    Advice Line

    Book an appointment for free and independent next-step legal information, advice and support on any educational issue that is a result of a child or young person’s SEND

  • What happens in an EHC needs assessment

    What happens in an EHC needs assessment

  • Choosing a school/college with an EHC plan

    Choosing a school/college with an EHC plan

  • The annual review process

    The annual review process

  • Contact us

    Contact us

  • Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

    Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

    The SEND Tribunal is an independent national tribunal which hears parents’ and young people’s appeals against LA decisions about the special educational needs of children and young people

How you can help IPSEA

How you can help IPSEA

Have you found the information on our website helpful today? If so, please consider donating! At IPSEA, we rely on your donations and fundraising efforts to help keep our vital services running. Read more

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Published: 19th March, 2014

Updated: 12th May, 2026

Author:

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IPSEA is registered charity number 327691
Limited company 02198066

Registered office: IPSEA, 2A Stansted Courtyard, Parsonage Road, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6PU

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