Prepare and submit your high needs place change return

Use this service to download the high needs place change notification workbook. After making your updates, upload the completed document for the 2026 to 2027 academic year or tell us if you have no changes to report.

This process allows local authorities to notify the Department for Education (DfE) of any changes to the number of high needs places at schools and colleges we fund.

The academic year (AY) runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027.

You must submit your return on or before 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025.

You can edit and resubmit your return until this date.

Before you start

This service is for local authorities.

To complete your return, you'll need:

confirmed total place numbers for schools, colleges, or other providers in your local authority area
to download your workbook files after signing in to this service
to have read the guidance: How to complete the high needs place change workbook for 2026 to 2027 (opens in new tab)

For more information, read the High needs place change process: 2026 to 2027 academic year guidance (opens in new tab)

Sign in with DfE Sign-in

You'll need a DfE Sign-in acount to access the 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 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