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Special Schools in Dorset

There are 17 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Dorset. 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 area
Key Performance Metrics for Dorset
Average FMS Inspection Score (out of 10)
Dorset
7.9/10vsEngland
8.0/10

How special-school admissions work in Dorset

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 Dorset

Showing 1-17 of 17 schools

  1. Yewstock School

    Sturminster Newton

    FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  2. Westfield Arts College

    Preston

    FMS Inspection Score 9.5/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  3. Beaucroft Foundation School

    Colehill

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  4. Harbour School Dorset

    Bovington

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 10 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  5. Mountjoy School

    Beaminster

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Other Difficulty/Disability, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  6. Wyvern Academy

    Chickerell

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  7. Arbour House School

    Weymouth

    Autistic Spectrum Disorder · Ages 6 to 18 · Co-educational · Day

  8. Aurora Beeches School

    Cranborne

    Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day

  9. Aurora Boveridge College

    Cranborne

    Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  10. Employ My Ability

    Moreton

    Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day

  11. Graduately Developing Futures

    Broadstone

    Ages 6 to 14 · Co-educational · Day

  12. Kingfisher School

    Westham

    Ages 6 to 16 · Co-educational · Day

  13. Millie College

    Holton Heath

    Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day

  14. Sheiling College

    Ashley

    Ages 19 to 24 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  15. Sheiling School

    Ashley

    Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 5 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  16. The Forum School

    Shillingstone

    Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Other Difficulty/Disability, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 7 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  17. The Luccombe Hub

    Luccombe

    Ages 8 to 18 · 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 Dorset?

This page currently lists 17 special schools in Dorset, 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 Dorset?

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 Dorset?

Across Dorset, 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.