Showing 1-9 of 34 schools
- Amwell View School
- Breakspeare School
- Colnbrook School
- Heathlands School
- Knightsfield School
- Lakeside School
- Middleton School
- James Marks Academy
- The Valley School
- The Collett School
- St Luke's School
- Greenside School
- Larwood School
- Brandles School
- Falconer School
- Garston Manor School
- Hailey Hall School
- Haywood Grove School
- Lonsdale School
- Meadow Wood School
Special Schools in Hertfordshire
There are 34 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Hertfordshire. 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 Hertfordshire
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 Hertfordshire
Showing 1-34 of 34 schools
- Amwell View School
Stanstead Abbotts
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Breakspeare School
Abbots Langley
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Colnbrook School
Garston
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Heathlands School
Fleetville
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Ages 3 to 18 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Knightsfield School
Knightsfield
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Ages 9 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Lakeside School
Lemsford
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Middleton School
Ware
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- James Marks Academy
Boxmoor
FMS Inspection Score 9/10 · Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- The Valley School
Broadhall Way
FMS Inspection Score 8.3/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- The Collett School
Lockers Park
FMS Inspection Score 8.3/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Other Difficulty/Disability, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 4 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- St Luke's School
Redbourn
FMS Inspection Score 7.7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 7 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Greenside School
Shephall
FMS Inspection Score 7.6/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Larwood School
Chells
FMS Inspection Score 7.6/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 5 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Brandles School
Weston
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Boys · Day
- Falconer School
Bushey Heath
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Boys · Day
- Garston Manor School
Garston
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Hailey Hall School
Hailey
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Boys · Day & boarding
- Haywood Grove School
Woodhall Farm
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 5 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Lonsdale School
Shephall
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Physical Disability · Ages 3 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Meadow Wood School
Coldharbour
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Physical Disability · Ages 3 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Southfield School
Old Hatfield
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- St Elizabeth's School
Much Hadham
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Other Difficulty/Disability, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 5 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Watling View School
Park Street
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Woodfield School
Leverstock Green
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 3 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy
Letchworth Garden City
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Batchwood School
Batchwood
FMS Inspection Score 6.3/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Pinewood School
Ware
FMS Inspection Score 5.2/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- East Hall School
East Hall Farm
Ages 14 to 17 · Co-educational · Day
- Elysium Healthcare Potters Bar Clinic School
Potters Bar
Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Radlett Lodge School
Radlett
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 5 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Redbourn Park Secondary School
Grovehill
Ages 11 to 14 · Co-educational · Day
- Rhodes Wood Hospital School
Brookmans Park
Ages 7 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- St Elizabeth's Centre
Perry Green
Autistic Spectrum Disorder · Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- White Trees Independent School
Bishops Stortford
Ages 11 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 Hertfordshire?
This page currently lists 34 special schools in Hertfordshire, 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 Hertfordshire?
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 Hertfordshire?
Across Hertfordshire, 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.