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Special Schools in North Yorkshire

There are 19 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in North Yorkshire. 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 North Yorkshire
Average FMS Inspection Score (out of 10)
North Yorkshire
7.4/10vsEngland
8.0/10

How special-school admissions work in North Yorkshire

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 North Yorkshire

Showing 1-19 of 19 schools

  1. Springhead School

    Eastfield

    FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  2. Springwater Academy

    Starbeck

    FMS Inspection Score 8.9/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Other Difficulty/Disability, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  3. Welburn Hall School

    Kirkbymoorside

    FMS Inspection Score 7.9/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 8 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  4. The Forest School

    Knaresborough

    FMS Inspection Score 7.7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Physical Disability, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 16 · Co-educational · Day

  5. Breckenbrough School

    Sandhutton

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 9 to 19 · Boys · Day & boarding

  6. Brooklands School

    Greatwood

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  7. Forest Moor School

    Darley

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 9 to 16 · Co-educational · Day

  8. Mowbray Academy

    Bedale

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 16 · Co-educational · Day

  9. The Dales School

    Morton-on-Swale

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  10. The Woodlands Academy

    Eastfield

    FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 2 to 16 · Co-educational · Day

  11. Brompton Hall School

    Brompton-By-Sawdon

    FMS Inspection Score 5.3/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 8 to 16 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  12. Cambian Scarborough School

    Cayton

    Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Specific Learning Difficulty · Ages 8 to 18 · Co-educational · Day

  13. Cambian Spring Hill

    Ripon

    Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 8 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  14. Cedar House School

    Low Bentham

    Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 7 to 18 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  15. Clervaux Garden School

    Croft-on-Tees

    Ages 10 to 19 · Co-educational · Day

  16. Fenton Grange School

    Potters Bar

    Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day

  17. Henshaws College

    Starbeck

    Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day & boarding

  18. Stonegate School

    Low Bentham

    Other Difficulty/Disability · Ages 11 to 18 · Girls · Day

  19. Strive for Education

    New Park

    Ages 14 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 North Yorkshire?

This page currently lists 19 special schools in North Yorkshire, 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 North Yorkshire?

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 North Yorkshire?

Across North Yorkshire, 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.