Specialist Education Provision for children under 16 in the West of England

When I started to look at local specialist schools in the West of England I assumed there would be a full list somewhere.  There wasn’t, my local authority were very helpful in providing the schools in their area but not the suitable schools in neighbouring local authorities.  I soon found out other parents were having the same problem.

So I have pulled together the information I have on schools and resource bases for children with disabilities and additional educational needs in the West of England.

The list covers Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.  I have also added a few on the outskirts in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire but these are just some of the schools available in those local authority areas.

The majority of the schools listed will require an Education Health and Care Plan for your child to attend. The list also includes private / independent schools.  Schools listed as residential may also take day students.  You might also want to look into Transition Funding.

Please let me know if information here is incorrect (I haven’t had the time to contact all the schools) or if a school is missing.  I will do my best to keep the list updated. Also please share it with anyone you think may find it useful.

I have split the schools up by local authority area and then alphabetically.  For each school I have provided the following information: Name of the school – with a link to the school website (age of pupils, address and a brief description).

You can also view the schools on the map below.  On the map: Pre-Schools are Yellow, Primary schools are Green, Secondary schools are Blue and schools that take a range of ages from are marked red.

Bath and North East Somerset (BANES): Specialist Schools

Aspire Academy (4-16): Frome Road, Odd Down, Bath BA2 5RF.  Provides specialist placements with personalised learning programmes for learners with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.  All students at the school require a statement of SEN or EHCP.

Bath Opportunity Pre-School :(0-5) 180 Frome Road, Odd Down, Bath, BA2 5RF.  A specialist setting providing Early Years Education and therapeutic services to children with additional needs from Bath and North East Somerset. No diagnosis or EHCP required.

Fosse Way School (3-19): Longfellow Road, Radstock, BANES, BA3 3AL.  A special school for students with complex learning difficulties including autistic spectrum conditions.

St Michael’s C. of E. Junior School (4-11): Newton Road, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1RW.  For pupils with Emotional, Behavioural & Social difficulties, mainstream with higher than average pupils with SEN.

Margaret Coates Centre (5-11): St. Martin’s Garden Primary School, Lympsham Green, Odd Down, Bath, BA2 2UN.  Resource base catering for primary aged children with autistic spectrum conditions and other associated disorders.

Three Ways School (4-19): 180 Frome Road, Odd Down, Bath, BA2 5RF.  A special school that take children who have special educational needs, who have severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

WASPS (4-11): Weston All Saints C.E. Primary School, Broadmoor Lane, Weston, Bath, BA1 4JR.  Hearing Impaired Resource Base (HIRB) provides support pupils with moderate, severe and profound hearing losses.

Bristol: Specialist Schools

Also see Bristol Local Offer Schools Map.

Ashton Park (11-19): Blackmoors Lane, Bower Ashton, Bristol BS3 2JL.  Resource base for children with speech and language difficulties

Belgrave School (6-16): 10 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2XH.  A small independent day school for children with Dyslexia and related learning difficulties.

Briarwood School (3-19), Barton Hill Pod, Queen Ann Rd, Bristol, BS5 9TX (3-5).  Briarwood Primary Site, Briar Way, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 4EA (4-11).  Briarwood Secondary Site, Snowdon road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 2EQ (11-16).  A specialist school for children with severe learning difficulties, complex needs including autism and sensory impairment.

Bristol Gateway School (11-19): Long Cross Lawrence, Weston, Bristol, BS11 0QA.  Specialist School for children with social and emotional behavioural difficulties.

Claremont School (2-19): Primary site – Henleaze Park, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 4LR (2-11).  Secondary site – Redland Court Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6 7EH (11-19).  A specialist school for children and young people with physical disabilities and a range of additional and/or associated learning needs, sensory impairment and health needs.

City Academy Bristol (11-18) Russell Town Avenue, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9JH.  Resource Base (20 places) for students with moderate learning difficulties and speech, language and communication needs.

Compass Point Primary School (5-11) South Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 3AU. Resource base (24 places) for students with autism.

Education 1^st Learning Centre (9-18): Southmead Youth Centre, Greystoke Avenue, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 6AS.  Independent specialist school providing part time placements of varying length according to need.

Elmfield School for Deaf Children: Primary site – Greystoke Avenue, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, Bristol, BS10 6AY (2-11).  Secondary site – Allfoxton Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9NL (11-16).  Special school for deaf pupils who range from profound severe and moderate levels of deafness, some of whom have additional Special needs.

Encompass Education (11-19): 164 Summerhill Road, St George, Bristol, Somerset, BS5 8JU.  Independent small residential special school for young people who have complex behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. (no website found, contact – administrator@encompasseducation.co.uk )

Fairfield High School (11-16): Allfoxton Road, Horfield, Bristol.  Resource Base for children with hearing impairments.

Grace Garden School (9-16): Canford Lane, Bristol BS9 3PE. New will open May 2021. Offering a holistic curriculum for both day and residential placements for young people with complex social, emotional and behavioural difficulties including Autism Spectrum conditions.

Henbury Court (5-11): Henbury Court Primary Academy, Trevelyan Walk, Henbury, Bristol, BS10 7NY.  Resource Base for children with hearing impairment.

Blaise High School (11-19): Station Road, Henbury, Bristol, BS10 7QH.  Resource base for children with learning difficulties and speech and language difficulties.

Ilminster Avenue Specialist Nursery (0-5): Ilminster Avenue, Bristol, United Kingdom BS4 1BX.  Resource Base for children with learning difficulties and autism spectrum conditions

Kingsweston School (5-19): Napier Miles Road, Kingsweston, Bristol, BS11 0UT (Primary & Secondary).  Kingsweston also has sites located within mainstream schools at -Shirehampton Primary School, Oasis Academy Brightstowe (secondary) and the Ashley down site at the City of Bristol College. The school is an above averaged sized specialist school primarily serving Bristol pupils with a range of needs, including Asperger’s and Autism, Severe Learning Difficulties and Complex Needs.

Knowle DGE Academy (5-19): Leinster Avenue, Knowle, Bristol, BS4 1NN.  A specialist Learning Centre for young people with additional needs principally in the areas of Social Emotional Mental Health, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Speech Language and Communication and Autistic Spectrum Condition.

Lansdown Park (11-16): Stockwood Lane, Stockwood, Bristol, BS14 8SJ.  Specialist pupil referral unit.

Meriton (11-16): Bristol Hospital Education Service, Falkland Road Bristol BS6 5JTCurrently under consultation. Specialist pupil referral unit.

New Fosseway School (5-19): Bridge Learning Campus, Teyfant Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol, BS13 0RG.  A specialist school who work with students who have a wide variety of needs, associated with severe learning difficulties, many have autism and sensory requirements.

Oasis Academy Brislington (11-19): Hungerford Rd, Bristol BS4 5HF, UK.  Resource Base for children with learning difficulties and Autistic Spectrum.

Oasis Academy Longcross (5-7): Oasis Academy Long Cross, Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, Bristol, BS11 0LP. Resource Base for children with learning difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

Oasis New Oak (5-11): Walsh Avenue, Hengrove, Bristol, BS14 9SN.  Resource Base for children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

St Matthias (11-16): 17 Alexandra Park, Bristol BS16 2BG.  Specialist pupil referral unit.

Venturer’s Academy (5-11): Withywood Road, Withywood, Bristol, BS13 9AX.  Specialist Resource Base for children with a primary diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

Woodstock School (5-11): Rectory Gardens, Henbury, Bristol, Avon, BS10 7AH.  Specialist school for children with emotional, social or mental health difficulties and some additional needs.

I believe there is also  a resource base’s for learning difficulties / speech and language difficulties at Ashton Park but this has not been confirmed. Also I have not been able to confirm if the Prospect Education Trust below is still open:

Prospect Education Trust: Tramway Road, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 3DS.  Independent specialist school. No website or contact.

North Somerset: Specialist Schools

Baytree School (3-19): The Campus, Highlands Lane, Weston-super-Mare, BS24 7DX.  Specialist school for young people who have severe learning difficulties and/or profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Ravenswood (3-19): Pound Lane, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 2NN.  A specialist school for children with a range of complex needs

Westhaven (7-16):  Ellesmere Road, Uphill, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 4UT.  A specialist school and Business and Enterprise College for children with a wide variety of barriers to their learning.

Woodspring School (11-18): Ebdon Lane, Wick St Lawrence, Weston Super Mare, BS22 7YA.  Specialist provision for children whom have complex needs; SEMHD and/or special educational needs.

South Gloucestershire: Specialist Schools

Access Centre – Chipping Sodbury School (11-16): Chipping Sodbury School, Bowling Road, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, BS37 6EW.  A specialist provision for students on the Autism Spectrum.

Aurora Hedgeway School (8-19): Rookery Lane, Pilning, South Gloucestershire, BS35 4JN.  Independent specialist education and residential care for children with communication and associated difficulties.  Students may be on the autistic spectrum or have other difficulties that impact their emotional health and well being.  Previously the NAS Anderson school more information on this link aurora hedgeway

Blackhorse Primary School (5-11):  Blackhorse Lane, Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire BS16 6TR.  Resource Base for pupils with Autism or Social Communication Difficulties.

Culverhill School (7-16): Kelston Close, Yate, Bristol, BS37 8SZ.  Specialist school for children with complex learning difficulties.

Emersons Green Primary: Guest Avenue, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7GA.  Emersons Green is a mainstream primary school with specialist provision for up to 14 pupils with visual impairment or physical disability.

Hanham Woods Academy (11-16): Memorial Road, Hanham, Bristol, BS15 3LA.   Resource Base for students with specific language and communication difficulties.

Lyde Green Access Centre ( 4-8):Willowherb Lane, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7LH.  The Access Centre is a specialist provision for pupils with Autistic Spectrum conditions and complex learning needs.  On the same site as Lyde Green Primary School but the Access Centre is a separate specialist provision.

New Horizons Learning Centre (7-16): Mulberry Drive, Kingswood, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS15 4EA.  Specialist school for young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.

New Siblands School (5-16): Easton Hill Road, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2JU.  Specialist school for children with special educational needs

Pathways Learning Centre (5-16): Overndale Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 2RQ.  Short term provision for young people with various needs.  The centre is for students who are unable to access mainstream school.  Students are supported to return to mainstream school or transition to a specialist setting.

SGS Pegasus School (4-18): Hempton Lane, Patchway, Almondsbury, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS32 4AJ.  New Specialist school for children with complex communication difficulties such as autism.

Sheiling School (6-19): Thornbury Park, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1HP.  An independent residential school for children and adolescents aged with special educational needs.

Soundwell Academy (5-18): Patchway Community School, Hempton Lane, Almondsbury BS32 4AJ. New Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) and Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN) Specialist Academy.

Warmley Park School (3-19): Tower Road North, Warmley, Bristol, BS30 8XL.  Specialist school for children with severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple difficulties, and those on the Autistic Spectrum.

Additional Specialist Schools

Below is a list of some additional nearby specialist schools that may be of interest but does not cover all specialist schools within the local authority areas listed:

Somerset:

3 Dimensions (7-25): Chardleigh House, Chardleigh Green, Wadeford Chard, Somerset TA20 3AJ.  Independent specialist school for young people with a range of learning difficulties and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

Abbots Way School (7-14): St Mary’s Road, Meare, Somerset, BA6 9SR.  Independent specialist day school, for students with specific learning differences, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia.

The Levels School (8-18): Etonhurst, 7 Bath Road, Ashcott, Somerset, TA7 9QS. Independent specialist day school. For students with students with dyslexia and co-occurring difficulties.

Marchant Holliday School (5-13): North Cheriton, Templecombe, Somerset, BA8 0AH.  IndependentSpecial School for boys with behavioural, social and emotional difficulties and  specific learning difficulties associated with learning delays or underachievement including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ASD, ADD, ADHD, ODD, OCD, PDDand mild auditory, visual and physical disabilities.

Mark College (10-19): Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4NP.  A mixed residential special school that provides education and on-site boarding facilities for young people with specific learning difficulties, including autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, language disorders and high anxiety.

The Mendip School (4-19): The Mendip School, Edmund Rack Road, Prestleigh, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4FZ.  Specialist school for children with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).

Newbury Manor School (7-19): Newbury, Mells, Nr. Frome, Somerset, BA11 3RG.   Specialist school for children who have an autistic spectrum diagnosis and have complex needs. In addition there is on-site residential care for up to eight students.

North Hill House (6-19): Fromefield, Frome, Somerset, BA11 2HB.  Specialist day and residential education for students with autismand associated conditions, such as ADHD and dyslexia.

Somerset progressive School (7-19): Bath House Farm, West Hatch, Taunton TA3 5RH.  Previously known as New Horizon Centre, a day special school to provide education for children who have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, MLD and are on the autistic spectrum.

Gloucestershire

Cambian Southwick Park (7-19): Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 7DG. Independent special school and a children’s home for children who have complex needs, including autism, severe learning disabilities and severe emotional, social and mental health difficulties.

Cotswold Chine (7-19): Cotswold Chine, Box nr Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 9AG.  Independent specialist school for children with complex learning needs and associated social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Wiltshire

Appleford school (7-18) Shrewton, Nr Sailsbury, Wiltshire, SP3 4HL. For students with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and associated learning needs.

Calder House School (7-13): Thickwood Lane, Colerne, Wiltshire, SN14 8BN.  A small co-educational day school for children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and language difficulties.

Downland School (11-16): Downlands Road, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 5EF.  Maintained community special school for boys who in most cases the primary identified need is Social, Emotional and Mental Health and behavioural difficulties.

Notton House Academy (8-19): 28 Notton, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2NF.  Day & Residential (week nights in term time). Special School. Term-time residential provision catering for boys, aged from 8-18 years, with challenging behaviour.

Springfields Academy (9-16): The Springfields Academy, Curzon Street, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0DS.  Education and residential care for young people with complex social and learning difficulties.

For further information on any of the schools listed please contact the school directly.

You may find my post on choosing a school helpful. Also my top autism friendly day’s out in Bristol may be helpful.

The Department of Education  lists all independent specialist schools that are approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act.