Showing 1-9 of 27 schools
- Castle EAST School
- Churchill Special Free School
- Priory School
- The Ashley School
- Woodbridge Road Academy
- Hillside Special School
- Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy
- Riverwalk School
- Sir Bobby Robson School
- Sir Peter Hall School
- Sunrise Academy
- The Bridge School
- Warren School
- Stone Lodge Academy
- Acorn Cottage The Lodge
- Bramfield House School
- Broadlands Hall
- Cambian Dunbroch School
- Compass Community School Aylward Park
- Gable End
Special Schools in Suffolk
There are 27 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Suffolk. 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 20.
All special schools by areaHow special-school admissions work in Suffolk
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 Suffolk
Showing 1-27 of 27 schools
- Castle EAST School
Bungay
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder · Ages 9 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Churchill Special Free School
Chalkstone
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 8 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Priory School
Mount Road
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, 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 5 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- The Ashley School
Oulton Broad
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 7 to 16 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Woodbridge Road Academy
Rushmere
FMS Inspection Score 8.9/10 · Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 9 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Hillside Special School
Sudbury
FMS Inspection Score 8.3/10 · Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy
Westgate
FMS Inspection Score 7.6/10 · 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
- Riverwalk School
Mayfield
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Sir Bobby Robson School
Whitton
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 8 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Sir Peter Hall School
Moreton Hall
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 9 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Sunrise Academy
Pakefield
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Ages 9 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- The Bridge School
Pinewood
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Warren School
Oulton Broad
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Ages 3 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Stone Lodge Academy
Chantry
FMS Inspection Score 1.7/10 · Ages 5 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Acorn Cottage The Lodge
Elmsett
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Girls · Day
- Bramfield House School
Bramfield
Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 7 to 16 · Boys · Day & boarding
- Broadlands Hall
Little Wratting
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 9 to 20 · Boys · Day
- Cambian Dunbroch School
Newmarket
Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Compass Community School Aylward Park
Leiston
Ages 11 to 17 · Co-educational · Day
- Gable End
Hintlesham
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Include Suffolk
Lowestoft
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 5 to 12 · Co-educational · Day
- Ness Point School
Lowestoft
Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- New Skill Centre
Chantry
Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- On Track Education Mildenhall
Mildenhall
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- The Ryes College
Assington
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Wetheringsett Manor School
Wetheringsett
Ages 7 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Centre Academy East Anglia
Brettenham
Specific Learning Difficulty · Ages 7 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
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 Suffolk?
This page currently lists 27 special schools in Suffolk, 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 Suffolk?
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 Suffolk?
Across Suffolk, 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.