Showing 1-9 of 12 schools
Special Schools in Bolton
There are 12 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Bolton. Together they support a range of needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty. Schools listed here span ages 2 to 25.
All special schools by areaHow special-school admissions work in Bolton
Special-school places are allocated through the EHCP process and the local authority, not through academic selection or the standard admissions round. That is why this page presents provision and inspection quality rather than a league-table position.
It starts with an EHCP
Most special-school places require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The plan sets out a child’s needs and the support and provision the local authority must arrange.
You express a preference
During the EHCP process you can name the special school you would like your child to attend. The local authority must consider your preference and consult the schools involved.
The local authority names the school
Unlike mainstream admissions, you do not apply directly to the school. The local authority names the agreed school in Section I of the EHCP, and that named school then has a duty to admit your child.
SENDIASS can help
Your local SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offers free, impartial guidance on EHCPs, expressing a preference, and what to do if you disagree with a decision.
Special Schools in Bolton
Showing 1-12 of 12 schools
- Green Fold School
Farnworth
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Ladywood School
Little Lever
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Rumworth School
Ladybridge
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Birtenshaw School Bolton
Bromley Cross
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 3 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Firwood High School
Smithills
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Lever Park School
Horwich
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Thomasson Memorial School
Lever Edge
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Hearing Impairment · Ages 2 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Birtenshaw College
Smithills
Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- Breightmet School
Breightmet
Ages 5 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- LifeBridge ASEND
Ladybridge
Ages 19 to 24 · Co-educational · Day
- Raise Education and Wellbeing School
Great Lever
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Woodbridge College
Kearsley
Ages 19 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
Frequently asked questions
What is a special school?
A special school educates children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who need more support than a mainstream school can usually provide. Most pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and schools are organised around specific types of need, such as autism, social and emotional needs, or severe and complex learning difficulties.
How many special schools are in Bolton?
This page currently lists 12 special schools in Bolton, ordered by inspection quality. Use the provision-type filter to narrow the list to the needs that matter most for your child.
How do I apply for a special school place in Bolton?
Special school places are arranged through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, not through the normal school-admissions round. You name your preferred school in the EHCP, and the local authority decides which school to name in Section I after consulting the schools. Your local SENDIASS service offers free, impartial advice on expressing a preference and on the EHCP timeline.
What SEN types are supported in Bolton?
Across Bolton, provision covers needs such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Moderate Learning Difficulty.
Are special schools inspected by Ofsted?
Yes. State-funded special schools are inspected by Ofsted on the same framework as mainstream schools, and independent special schools are inspected by Ofsted or an approved inspectorate. We translate the latest inspection into an FMS Inspection Score so you can compare schools on a single consistent scale.
Do special schools follow the national curriculum and offer GCSEs?
Special schools follow a broad and balanced curriculum, adapted to each pupil. Many enter pupils for GCSEs, Functional Skills, and vocational qualifications where appropriate, while others focus on communication, independence, and life skills. The right mix depends on the school and the needs of its pupils.
How are special schools funded?
State special school places are funded by local authorities through the high-needs block, with additional top-up funding attached to each pupil with an EHCP. Independent and non-maintained special schools may be funded by the local authority where the EHCP names them, or privately by families.