Management Information Sheet

Parents and Carers should have submitted an application for a mainstream school place by 15th January 2023. In line with the principle of 'Local First' and the requirements of the Children Act, sections 33 and 34, most children should be educated in a mainstream school.*

Deferral is not necessary for children with SEND. For children who have their 5th birthday during the autumn or spring term, it is not possible for them to continue to attend an early years setting in the term after their 5th birthday. Children should transition into school in September, when reception classes are adapted to meet their needs and all children are learning new routines and building friendships. It may be an extended transition and settling-in period. Reasonable adjustments should be made so that children are accessing their full-time education entitlement as soon as the child is ready. If the parents of summer born children are considering deferral, they should contact NCC Admissions to help inform their decisions. Admission to reception classes in Norfolk - Norfolk County Council

Supporting parents and helping manage their concerns is a professional responsibility. Engaging with parents early on to welcome them to your school and establish a relationship where you can work together to meet individual children's needs will help build an effective education. All parents should be reassured that the funding, training and resources needed to support their child will be in place.

In order to support you in making arrangements for children with SEND joining mainstream school in September, bridging funding will be available. This is based on the SEND inclusion fund (SENIF) payments made for a child in their early years setting, if they have EHCP, or have been identified as having 'complex or medical' needs. This provides funding until you complete the INDES. High needs Element 3 funding - Schools (norfolk.gov.uk)

Timely contact with early years settings can support you in making reasonable adjustments to meet children's needs. This year all early years settings will have access to a refreshed version of the STAIR (Supporting Transition and Inclusion Record). Please make sure Early Years settings have a named contact for your Reception class to share the STAIR (or other transition record) with. This will ensure timely receipt of useful information to incorporate into your school plans. Transitions - Schools (norfolk.gov.uk)

*Section 33 Child and young people with EHC plans: In a case within section 39(5) or 40(2), the local authority must secure that the plan provides for the child or young person to be educated in a maintained nursery school, mainstream school or mainstream post-16 institution, unless that is incompatible with-

1. the wishes of the child's parent or the young person, or
2. the provision of efficient education for others.

It is the Local Authority who makes the decision as to which school will be named in section I of the EHCP. If named the relevant school has a duty to admit. If parents/carers disagree they have a right of appeal.

Section 34 Children and young people with special educational needs but no EHC plan

1. This section applies to a child or young person in England who has special educational needs but for whom no EHC plan is maintained, if he or she is to be educated in a school or post-16 institution.
2. The child or young person must be educated in a maintained nursery school, mainstream school or mainstream post-16 institution, subject to subsections (3) and (4).