Guidance: Independent special schools and colleges

Independent schools for pupils with special educational needs, including those approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act.

Documents

Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 49.2KB

Independent special schools in England including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges)

ODS, 31.7KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Independent special schools in England including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges)

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 47KB

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Details

Lists of all independent schools and colleges for children with special educational needs or disability (SEND), including:

• schools and colleges approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014 in England and Wales
• independent special schools in England, including non-maintained special schools (NMSS)

NMSS are schools that the Secretary of State for Education has approved under section 342 of the Education Act 1996.

You can filter the lists by local authority or by type of school.

Read the SEND code of practice for parents to find out how to name one of these schools in a child’s education, health and care (EHC) plan.

Visit the school and college performance tables if you’d like to find out about special schools or colleges maintained by a local authority.

Read our guide for independent special schools and colleges interested in applying for approval under section 41.

Published 31 December 2015
Last updated 30 August 2019 + show all updates

1. 30 August 2019 Updated list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales has been added for August 2019
2. 22 July 2019 Updated list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales has been added for July 2019.
3. 27 June 2019 We have updated the list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales.
4. 10 May 2019 An updated list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales has been added following the review.
5. 3 May 2019 Updated list of independent special schools in England including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges).
6. 11 April 2019 Secretary of State approved list updated following termly review.
7. 7 February 2019 The Secretary of State approved list has been updated for January.
8. 10 December 2018 Updated Secretary of State approved list following termly review.
9. 1 October 2018 Replaced “Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales” spreadsheets with latest versions.
10. 14 September 2018 Replaced ‘Independent special schools in England including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges)’ spreadsheets with latest versions.
11. 31 August 2018 Updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales for August 2018.
12. 10 August 2018 The Secretary of State Approved list has been refreshed following termly review.
13. 24 April 2018 Updated publication of the Secretary of State approved list has been added for April 2018.
14. 9 March 2018 Updated special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales list
15. 20 December 2017 Updated ‘Independent special schools in England, including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges)’.
16. 23 November 2017 The special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales spreadsheet has been updated.
17. 18 October 2017 Updated approved section 41 list has been added.
18. 31 August 2017 Updated ‘Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales’ document.
19. 28 April 2017 Updated ‘Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales’ document.
20. 16 March 2017 Updated ‘Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales’ document.
21. 30 December 2016 Updated ‘Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales’ document.
22. 29 September 2016 List of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales updated.
23. 13 July 2016 Updated ‘Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales’ document to reflect the removal of Trinity Specialist College.
24. 29 April 2016 Updated ‘Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales’ document to remove Queen Elizabeth Brain Foundation.
25. 31 December 2015 First published.