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 is very important to visit a variety of schools to get a sense of the environment and see which one best supports your child's needs. Camden offers a variety of mainstream schools, as well as specialist schools for children with more specific SEND needs and an Education, Health and Care Plan.

When moving to Camden and applying for a school place for your child, it's important to have proof of a Camden address. Here are the key documents that you may need to provide:

  • Utility Bill (gas, electricity, or water) – A recent bill showing your name and the address.
  • Council Tax Statement – A current statement indicating the property you live in and your name.
  • Tenancy Agreement – A signed copy of the tenancy agreement between you and the landlord.
  • Solicitor's Letter – A letter from your solicitor confirming the completion date of your house purchase if you’ve recently moved into a property.

Having one of these documents will help you meet the Local Authority's requirements for school admissions.

Moving into Camden local authority without an EHCP

School Admissions Process: All Camden schools are legally required to support children with SEND, and they have the capacity to do so. You will need to apply for a school place via the admissions service. We are proud to offer SEN support within all of our mainstream schools and ensure they are inclusive environments.

If you need assistance with applying for an in-year admission, please contact the admissions service or if you have questions about support in school, contact the school and ask to speak to the SENCo.

Transferring an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) when moving to Camden

  1. Notify Camden: Once you have confirmed your new address in Camden, contact the SEND Team.
  2. Responsibility Transfer: After you move, Camden will take responsibility for the provision in your child / young person’s EHCP. Your previous Local Authority has 15 working days to transfer the EHCP to Camden. If you notify them 15 working days ahead of the move, the transfer must happen on the day you move. Camden will have six weeks from the transfer to notify you that the EHC plan has been transferred, and to let you know when it is going to review the EHC plan.
  3. School Preference: You can still request a preference for a mainstream or special school, as specified in the EHCP. 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: Camden 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. Case Officer: A named SEN Case Officer will be assigned to your child / young person to oversee the process and will make contact with you.

If you're in the middle of this transition, it’s important to stay in close communication with both your previous Local Authority and Camden to ensure the smooth transfer of services and provision for your child.

Moving out of Camden with an EHCP

If your child or young person has an EHCP and you are moving out of the Local Authority, it is important to inform Camden’s 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.