The Chiltern School is a council-run special school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, for children and young people aged 3 to 19. It supports speech and language, autism, multi-sensory and 3 other needs.
- Ages 3–19
- 369 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Council special school
- Ages
- 3 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 369 (places for 400)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lisa Leonard (Headteacher)
- Free school meals
- 37% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 109746
Needs it supports
6 needs: speech and language, autism and 4 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Autism Other schools for this in Central Bedfordshire (9)
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in Central Bedfordshire (3)
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Central Bedfordshire (1)
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties Other schools for this in Central Bedfordshire (1)
Sensory and physical
- Multi-sensory impairment Other schools for this in Central Bedfordshire (1)
- Physical disability Other schools for this in Central Bedfordshire (1)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Central Bedfordshire council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, October 2012; school remains Good (February 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2012. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2023).
Contact and getting there
Parkside Drive, Dunstable, LU5 5PX
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- The Academy of Central Bedfordshire Alternative provision · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.0 miles
- Chantry Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Pastures Way Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
All SEND schools in Central Bedfordshire
By need in Central Bedfordshire: Autism (10) · SEMH (5) · Speech and language (4) · Hearing (4) · Moderate learning (2) · Severe learning (2) · PMLD (2) · Multi-sensory (2) · Physical (2)
Questions about The Chiltern School
How do I get a place at The Chiltern School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult The Chiltern School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does The Chiltern School support?
Speech, language and communication, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulty and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Chiltern School take?
Aged 3 to 19, boys and girls.
What is The Chiltern School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is The Chiltern School?
Parkside Drive, Dunstable, LU5 5PX, in Central Bedfordshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.