School admissions

If you are applying for your child to start primary, junior or secondary school for the first time, you can find all the information you need to consider, including national deadlines, online application portal and school admission information for Leeds schools on the Leeds City Council admissions pages. 

We would suggest looking at the primary schools in your local area, including their websites and OFSTED reports. It is also a good idea to contact the schools and ask to speak to the SENCos to discuss whether they think your child’s needs can be meet at their school, as this may help you decide on which schools to name. We can help you to prepare for a school visit. 

If your child is at a school, but you wish to change schools, you’ll need to apply for a school transfer. Find out more about moving schools 

You should also think about how your child might travel to and from school and whether you would be eligible for any help with home to school transport. 

School places are offered according to the admission criteria listed in the school’s admission policy, so you will need to check the school’s policy to see what their criteria are.

All schools should be inclusive and are expected to meet needs for all children with low level SEND and also the majority of complex SEND, medical and mobility needs. 

If you think that your child has exceptional educational needs that can only be met at one school and that your child should get a school place due to specific admissions criterion, you could apply for priority. However not all schools offer this, so you will need to check their admissions policy. 

You can apply for priority at a school if your child does not have an EHCP but has either special educational needs, exceptional medical needs or mobility needs.  

To apply, you should attach the following to your online application: 

• A letter written by yourself, to explain why you are requesting priority
• supporting evidence from an independent professional, such as a doctor, nurse or teacher, to explain what your child's needs are and why only one school can meet that need

The Leeds City Council admissions webpages will tell you what to include in the letter and also gives examples of successful and unsuccessful applications, which will be useful to look at. 

You can request a specialist school or setting as part of the EHCP process and the local authority will name one in section I of a finalised plan. 

If you are wanting a change of placement then this can be discussed at the next EHCP review. 

We can help you look at specialist placement options. 

You can also visit Leeds City Council's support for pupils with SEND pages for more information.

Choosing the right secondary school for your child is a big decision. For children with additional needs, there is often even more to think about.

The application process for children with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs) is slightly different to general admissions. This is to ensure that children with EHCPs are allocated to schools before all other children. 

Children must start full time education after they reach compulsory school age (on 31 December, 31 March or 31 August after turning 5, whichever comes first.) 

Most children start in Reception at primary school in the September after they turn 4. If you think your child is not ready to start school in the September after they turn 4, they could delay until the first day of the next term after they turn 5 or start school part time. 

To delay starting school, you will still need to apply for a Reception place in their normal age group, in case you do not get permission. 

You will then need to attach a letter to each school you apply for in your online application. The letter should explain: 

• why you want your child to start school early or late
• the year group you would like your child to start school in
• attach evidence that supports your request if you have any

For more information on starting school, please visit the Leeds City Council starting school admissions page.

If your child is gifted and talented or has experienced problems like ill health and has missed a lot of school, they might be able to move up or down a year at school. This is called an admission out of chronological age. 

If your child is already attending school, and you feel they may benefit from moving to a different year group, you should talk to the headteacher about this. 

If you're applying for your child to move schools and want them to start in another year group, you need to apply for a place based on their normal age group and attach a letter requesting that they start in a different year. The letter must include: 

• why you think your child should start out of their normal year group
• the year group you wish your child to start in

Each school you apply for will make its own decision on whether your child can start in the year you request. Asking for your child to start in a different year will not affect whether they are offered a place. 

If you and your child are new to the country, then you will need to contact the Leeds City Council Admissions Team on: 

• 0113 2224414
• education.admissions@leeds.gov.uk

If you would like your child to attend a mainstream school, you can go through the normal admissions route to find a place at a mainstream school. The school would be able to claim funding for any SEND needs your child may have and they can consider applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) if they feel it may be needed. 

If the Admissions team feel your child would need a specialist setting, rather than mainstream school they will then contact an Education Psychologist (EP). Their role is to make a professional recommendation of where a child should be placed for their initial assessment. Children arriving new to the country can be placed in a specialist setting for their assessment.