What if I move to a different area?

If you are going to move, you should let your child’s school and the us know. You should talk to us and to your new LEA about your child’s needs and the best way of making sure they continue to be met.

When you move, we will send your child’s statement to your new LEA and your child’s school will send all your child’s school records to the new school.

The new LEA must then make sure that your child gets all the special educational help set out in the statement. Within six weeks of receiving your child’s statement, your new LEA must tell you when they will review the statement or whether they are going to carry out a new statutory assessment of your child.

If you only move a short distance, your child may be able to stay at the same school. If you move further away, your child may have to start at a new school before the new LEA review the statement or carry out a statutory assessment. But if you still live nearby, your child can stay at the same school, at least until the LEA review and perhaps change the statement.

If your child goes to a non-maintained special school or independent school, the new LEA must pay any fees that we paid, at least until they change the statement. Similarly if your child goes to a residential school, the new LEA must pay any fees we paid, at least until they change the statement.

Remember – you have a right to tell the LEA what you think before they make any change.

Remember, too, that if you disagree with any change that the LEA make, you can ask for the disagreement to be sorted out informally and, at the same time, appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal.

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