NEPS Student Transfer Form: Guide for Irish Schools
Learn when Irish primary schools use the NEPS Student Transfer Form, who completes it, how it fits the Education Passport, and when to send it.
The NEPS Student Transfer Form helps a primary school share relevant support information with a pupil's confirmed post-primary school when the pupil needs additional support. It supplements the Education Passport rather than replacing it.
The form is also titled Post-Primary Transfer Review. It records strengths, identified needs, supports already provided, and practical information that can help the receiving school plan a smoother transition.
Note
Quick answer
Use the NEPS Student Transfer Form when it is appropriate for a sixth-class pupil who needs additional support. Complete it with current, relevant information, obtain parent or guardian consent on the form, and send it to the post-primary school after enrolment is confirmed. Always check the current Department and NCCA guidance before sending records.
Download the Official NEPS Student Transfer Form
- NEPS Student Transfer Form / Post-Primary Transfer Review (PDF)
- Circular 0048/2026: standardised testing and transfer matters
- NCCA outline of the transfer process (PDF)
Link to the official form rather than keeping an old local copy. NEPS or the Department may revise the document or guidance.
What Is the NEPS Student Transfer Form?
The form is an additional transition record for pupils who need support when moving from primary to post-primary school. It gives the receiving school a concise picture of what is already known and what has helped.
The current form covers:
- background information and relevant assessments
- strengths, identified needs, and recommendations
- support provided in primary school
- programmes, methodologies, materials, and arrangements already used
- curriculum, learning, organisational, and social considerations for transfer
- the people involved in the review
- parent or guardian consent to send the information to the named post-primary school
It should reflect the pupil's current position. Avoid copying every historical note into the form when it is no longer relevant to transition planning.
How It Fits the Education Passport
The Education Passport is the standard transfer process at the end of sixth class. Its materials include the sixth-class report card, the pupil's My Profile, and the parent or guardian's My Child's Profile.
The NEPS Student Transfer Form is a supplement for pupils requiring additional support. It does not replace the Education Passport, a Student Support File, or a current Student Support Plan.
| Record | Main purpose |
|---|---|
| Education Passport | Shares standard educational information for the move to post-primary school |
| NEPS Student Transfer Form | Shares additional support and transition-planning information when appropriate |
| Student Support File | Records the pupil's support pathway through the Continuum of Support |
| Student Support Plan | Sets current priority needs, targets, strategies, and review arrangements |
Who Completes and Signs the Form?
The primary school completes the form using information held by the staff who know the pupil and their support. This may involve the class teacher, special education teacher, principal, and other relevant staff.
The form includes a parent or guardian consent section naming the post-primary school that will receive the information. The current Department circular says the form should be completed and signed by parents or guardians before it is sent.
Student voice can also improve transition planning. Use a method suited to the pupil's age, communication profile, and needs. Our collaboration and review checklist gives practical questions for gathering useful input.
When Should Schools Send It?
Circular 0048/2026 says Education Passport materials should be sent after enrolment is confirmed, ideally by the end of June. It also says information about pupils requiring additional support should be shared earlier so the post-primary school has time to plan.
There is no single universal date on the NEPS form itself. The practical rule is to start early enough for useful transition planning, confirm the receiving school, obtain the required signature, and follow the current Department, NCCA, and any relevant NCSE timelines.
Note
Practical planning note
Circular 0048/2026 says information about pupils requiring additional support should be shared earlier to support planning. If a report is pending, a practical approach is to record that accurately and follow up through the school's agreed process when it becomes available and is relevant.
A Practical School Checklist
Before sending the form, check that:
- enrolment at the receiving post-primary school is confirmed
- the correct current version of the official form is being used
- strengths and successful strategies are specific enough to guide staff
- identified needs and recommendations are current and evidence-based
- existing support arrangements are described accurately
- attached plans, reviews, or reports are relevant and up to date
- the parent or guardian consent section is completed
- the named receiving school is correct
- the school's approved secure transfer method is used
- a record of what was sent, when, and by whom is retained appropriately
Share only information needed for educational support and transition planning. If staff are unsure about a document, attachment, or transfer method, use the school's data-protection policy and seek advice from the principal or data protection contact.
How SENScribe Fits the Process
SENScribe does not replace the official NEPS transfer form or Education Passport. It can help teachers keep a current draft Student Support Plan, clear targets, and review information ready for professional review. That can make it easier to identify accurate, relevant information when the school completes official transition records.
Teachers remain responsible for checking the content, deciding what is appropriate to share, obtaining consent where required, and using the school's approved transfer process.
See how SENScribe supports plan reviews
Review how teachers draft, edit, export, and securely share Student Support Plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NEPS Student Transfer Form required for every sixth-class pupil?
No. The Education Passport is the standard transfer process. The NEPS form supplements it when appropriate for a pupil requiring additional support.
Is the form the same as a Student Support Plan?
No. A Student Support Plan records current needs, targets, strategies, and review arrangements. The transfer form summarises information that will help the receiving post-primary school prepare for the pupil's transition.
Can the form be sent before a post-primary place is confirmed?
The current guidance links transfer of the Education Passport to confirmed enrolment, and the NEPS form names the receiving school in its consent section. Confirm the destination and follow current official guidance before sharing the record.
Should reports and support plans be attached?
The form asks schools to attach recent support plans, reviews, IEPs, or ILPs. Only include material that is relevant, current, and appropriate to share through the school's agreed process.
Where should schools check for updates?
Check the current Department circular, the official NEPS form, and NCCA transfer guidance before each transfer cycle.