Showing 1-9 of 23 schools
- Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School
- Grange School
- Melland High School
- North Ridge High School
- Pioneer House High School
- Piper Hill High School
- Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School
- Rodney House School
- Manchester Hospital School
- Lancasterian School
- Meade Hill School
- Southern Cross School
- The Birches School
- Bridge College
- Camberwell Park Specialist Support School
- Digital Advantage
- IncludEd Learning
- Manchester Jewish School for Special Education
- Navigators
- Pinc College
Special Schools in Manchester
There are 23 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Manchester. 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 3 to 25.
All special schools by areaHow special-school admissions work in Manchester
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 Manchester
Showing 1-23 of 23 schools
- Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School
Wythenshawe
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 3 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Grange School
Gorton
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Melland High School
Gorton
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- North Ridge High School
Harpurhey
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Other Difficulty/Disability, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Pioneer House High School
Northern Moor
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Piper Hill High School
Newall Green
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School
Harpurhey
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 3 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Rodney House School
Longsight
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Other Difficulty/Disability, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Manchester Hospital School
Ardwick
FMS Inspection Score 9.5/10 · Ages 4 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Lancasterian School
West Didsbury
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 3 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Meade Hill School
Higher Blackley
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Southern Cross School
Northenden
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 9 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- The Birches School
West Didsbury
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Bridge College
Openshaw
Moderate Learning Difficulty, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- Camberwell Park Specialist Support School
Moston
Ages 3 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Digital Advantage
Northern Quarter
Ages 16 to 24 · Co-educational · Day
- IncludEd Learning
Whalley Range
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Manchester Jewish School for Special Education
Cheetham Hill
Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- Navigators
Salford Quays
Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- Pinc College
Moss Side
Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- The Greens ENS
Newton Heath
Ages 5 to 14 · Co-educational · Day
- The Watkin Centre
Northenden
Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Orchard House Specialist High School
Miles Platting
Ages 11 to 19 · 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 Manchester?
This page currently lists 23 special schools in Manchester, 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 Manchester?
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 Manchester?
Across Manchester, 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.