Special schools and specialist colleges
Special schools and specialist colleges
Special schools and specialist colleges are for young people who:
- have complex needs
- need more support than a mainstream college or sixth form can offer
Do I need an EHCP?
Yes, you do need to have an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) to apply for a place at a special school or a specialist college.
How do I get a place?
The process is different from normal college applications. You (or your parent/carer) can ask for a school or college to be named in your EHCP. This usually happens:
- when your EHCP is being written
- or at a review meeting (annual, interim, or emergency review)
Find out more
Important to know
Most special schools and colleges get full very quickly.
Who can help you?
It's a good idea to talk to your EHCP Coordinator (Caseworker) or school/college staff. They can:
- give advice
- help you plan your next steps
- support your application
What are my options?
If you have very complex needs, you might go to:
- a local special school or specialist college
- Sometimes (in a small number of cases), you may go to an independent specialist college. This only happens if: there is no suitable place locally (within about an hour’s travel).
You can find out more about special and independent schools and the admission process on the Local Offer pages.
I don’t have an EHCP – how do I get one?
If you think you may need an EHCP but don’t have one yet, or you would like to learn more, just hop over to the Local Offer page for helpful info and advice!
Further information and support
>Care farms
Care farms are places where farming is used to help people feel better and learn new skills. They can be full farms or part of a farm, offering health, social or educational support in a safe environment.
On a care farm, you might learn lots of exciting things like working with animals (like horses or farm animals), growing crops, looking after the land, or learning where food comes from! These activities can help you build confidence, learn responsibility, and enjoy being outdoors, especially if you have learning difficulties or need extra support. You usually need to be referred by services such as school, health or social care, but you can sometimes be referred by family or refer yourself. It's also important to know that care farms do charge for their programmes, so there is usually a cost involved.
Why not hop over to the Local Offer page to read more about care farms?
Other information in the Education section
