Special Schools in England — SEND Guide for Parents 2025

What Is It?

Understanding Special Schools in England

Special schools in England provide education for children and young people with significant special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who require a level of specialist support that cannot be met in a mainstream school — even with additional support in place. Access to a special school is gated through the Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan process.

An EHC plan is a statutory document produced by the local authority describing a child's special educational needs, the support they require, and the provision to be made. Parents, children and young people have the right to express a preference for a particular school. Special schools offer smaller class sizes (often 5–10 pupils), higher staff ratios, specialist teachers, and on-site access to therapists.

Types of special school provision include: schools for pupils with moderate or severe learning difficulties (MLD/SLD), autism spectrum condition (ASC) schools, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) provision, physical and sensory impairment schools, and hospital schools. The SEND system has been under considerable strain nationally, with many local authorities facing significant shortfalls in places.

Step by Step

How Special Schools Works

1

If you believe your child has significant SEND, speak to their school's SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and/or your GP.
2

Request an EHC needs assessment from your local authority — they must decide within 6 weeks whether to carry out the assessment.
3

The LA completes the assessment within 20 weeks, involving school, health, social care professionals, and parents.
4

The LA issues a draft EHC plan. You have 15 days to comment and request a preferred school.
5

The LA names a school in the final EHC plan — they must consider your preference and provide clear reasons for any refusal.
6

Your child starts at the named special school with the provision in their EHC plan funded and delivered.

Pros & Considerations

The Advantages & Things to Consider

Advantages

Highly specialist teaching staff trained in specific SEND areas
Much smaller class sizes allow personalised and intensive support
Therapy services (SaLT, OT, EP) integrated directly into the school day
Peer group of children with similar needs can reduce social isolation
Curriculum adapted entirely to the child's individual stage and pace of development

Considerations

Access is gated through the EHC process, which can be slow and contested
Many local authorities face significant shortfalls in special school places
Special schools may be further from home than mainstream alternatives
Some parents prefer inclusion in mainstream school with appropriate support
The SEND system has been widely criticised for delays and inconsistency across England

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Special Schools in England

Does my child need an EHC plan to attend a special school?

In the vast majority of cases, yes. A maintained special school can only be named for a child with an EHC plan. However, non-maintained independent special schools can sometimes be named in an EHC plan where the LA agrees the school best meets the child's needs — though the LA must fund it.

What types of special schools are there in England?

Special schools cater for a wide range of needs: Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD), Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Profound & Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), Speech & Language needs (SLCN), Visual and Hearing Impairment, Physical and Medical needs, and Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI). Many schools specialise in combinations.

Can I choose which special school my child attends?

You have the right to express a preference for any maintained special school in your child's EHC plan. The LA must name your preferred school unless it is unsuitable for the child's needs, incompatible with the efficient education of others, or an inefficient use of resources. These refusals can be appealed to the SEND Tribunal.

What is the difference between a special school and a mainstream school with a resourced unit?

A special school is a standalone institution entirely for pupils with SEND. A resourced unit (or specialist provision) is a dedicated facility within a mainstream school, offering specialist support to a small identified group while allowing access to the wider mainstream environment for some activities. Resourced units suit pupils who benefit from both specialist support and inclusion.

What qualifications do pupils gain at special schools?

Special schools offer qualifications tailored to individual ability, including Entry Level qualifications, Functional Skills in English, Maths and ICT, BTEC Awards, and where appropriate, GCSEs. Many use personalised outcome frameworks rather than focusing exclusively on academic qualifications. With an EHC plan, young people can access specialist provision up to age 25.

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