Manage your high needs place change return

This form is for local authorities to notify the Department for Education (DfE) of changes to high needs places for the 2027 to 2028 academic year.

It is for local authorities only.

Use this form to:

download a high needs place change workbook
upload a completed workbook return
submit a nil return if you have no place changes to report

The academic year runs from 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028.

You must complete this form by 5pm on Friday 6 November 2026. You can edit and resubmit until that date.

Before you start

You'll need:

confirmed total place numbers for schools, colleges and other providers in your local authority area
to download your workbook after signing in
to read the guidance for completing the high needs place change workbook for 2027 to 2028 (opens in new tab)

For more information, read the high needs place change process guidance for the 2027 to 2028 academic year (opens in new tab)

Sign in with DfE Sign-in

You'll need a DfE Sign-in account to use this service. If you have not used DfE Sign-in before you'll need to create an account (opens in new tab) and link it to your organisation.

If you have questions

For sign-in or technical issues with this service you can contact us through the Customer Help Portal (opens in new tab)

For anything else, including workbook content and function, or high needs place change policy, you can email directly to high.needs@education.gov.uk