SEND choosing and applying for secondary school

Most children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can be taught in mainstream schools including those with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan, often referred to as EHCP). If your child or young person has a much higher level of need, they may require more specialist support which could be in a school with an additionally resourced provision (ARP) or special school.

All schools, including academies, free schools and maintained schools have a SEND Information Report (SENDIR) which sets out the school’s approach to SEND. This report includes information such as:

the type of support the school provides
their approach to teaching children and young people with SEND
how they will involve parents in their child’s education and engage with young people

Many schools also have a SEND policy. Both are great places to start when you are choosing a school. Details of each school’s report and policy can be found on the individual schools' website.

Mainstream schools

Visiting local schools during their open days or taking a virtual tour will help you to consider which schools you prefer or think might be right for your child or young person. Visiting dates are publicised on individual schools’ websites.

It is important that all parents apply for a place in a mainstream class in a local mainstream school using the Bromley secondary school application process.

When choosing a mainstream school, you should find out:

whether the school has experience of young people with similar needs and what strategies have been effective
what the school's special educational needs and disability policy is
how your young person would be supported in class
how you'd be involved in your young person's learning and development

Most schools will also be happy to arrange a meeting with the SENCO before you apply for a place, so you can discuss your child’s or young person’s needs and how the school would meet them.

If your child or young person has an EHC plan and you're unsure if a particular school is suitable for them, you can talk to your named EHCP coordinator.

View a list of the mainstream secondary schools in the borough. (Includes SEND information reports)

Mainstream schools with additionally resourced provisions (ARP)

Some mainstream schools across the borough have additionally resourced provisions (ARP), to support particular needs such as complex learning difficulties, hearing impairments, social and communication difficulties, and speech and language disorders. To access an ARP, your young person will need to have been identified by Bromley Council as having a level of need where this type of specialist provision is required.

Specialist schools

For young people with a much higher level of need and an EHC plan, that only a special school placement can meet their identified needs, specialist schools in Bromley (including Pupil Referral Units and alternative provisions) are available.

View a list of specialist schools:

Alternative provision in Bromley are listed:

Bromley Trust Academy - Midfield Campus
The Tutorial Foundation
TLC (the learning centre) - Orpington 01689 824463

Applying for a secondary school

The application deadline for young people starting in school in September each year will be in October of the previous academic year.

It is important for you to note that if your young person is being assessed for special educational needs, including an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment, you should follow the standard process for applying for a secondary school place. If you do not apply for a place and an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan, often referred to as EHCP) is not issued for your young person following the assessment, you may miss out on a place at one of your preferred schools.

If your child or young person does not have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan, often referred to as EHCP) you will have to apply for a secondary school place in the same way as other parents.

If your child or young person has an EHC plan, the school named in their or EHC plan must offer them a place.

Find out how to apply for a secondary school