There are 35 SEND schools in County Durham: 9 special schools, 8 independent special schools, 2 alternative provision schools and 16 mainstream schools with an SEN unit or resourced provision. Between them they support autism (12), speech, language and communication needs (8), moderate learning difficulties (8) and severe learning difficulties (7), among other needs.
35 schools
Special schools first, then A to Z.
- Croft Community SchoolDyslexia and SpLD, Speech and language, Autism and 2 more
- Durham Trinity School & Sports CollegeAutism, Moderate learning, Severe learning and 1 more
- Elemore Hall SchoolSEMH
- Evergreen Primary SchoolAutism, Severe learning, PMLD
- Hope Wood AcademyDyslexia and SpLD, Hearing, Speech and language and 4 more
- Norman Cornish AcademySEMH
- The Oaks Secondary SchoolAutism, Moderate learning, Severe learning and 1 more
- Villa Real SchoolAutism, Severe learning, PMLD
- Walworth SchoolSEMH
- Forest Park School
- Highcroft School
- Learning for Life
- North East Centre for Autism - Aycliffe School
- Strawberry Lane
- The Grange Learning Centre
- Thornbeck College - North East Autism SocietyAutism
- Trimdon Hill School
- Endeavour Academy Durham
- The Woodlands
- Belmont Cheveley Park Primary SchoolSpeech and language
- Belmont Community SchoolVision, Hearing
- Bishop Barrington AcademyAutism
- Burnopfield Primary School
- Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary SchoolDyslexia and SpLD, Autism, Moderate learning
- Durham AcademyDyslexia and SpLD, Vision, Speech and language and 4 more
- Durham Gilesgate Primary SchoolHearing
- Greenland Community Primary SchoolDyslexia and SpLD, Vision, Hearing and 6 more
- Horden Nursery School
- Howletch Lane Primary School
- Leadgate Primary School - Split SiteSEMH
- Seaview Primary SchoolSpeech and language, Autism, Moderate learning
- Timothy Hackworth Primary SchoolSpeech and language
- Wheatley Hill Community Primary SchoolSpeech and language
- Woodham AcademyPhysical
- Yohden Primary SchoolDyslexia and SpLD
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No school here matches all of those. or choose fewer needs.
Free help in County Durham
- County Durham SENDIASSFree, independent advice on EHC plans, choosing a school, meetings and appeals.
- County Durham Local OfferWhat the council provides for SEND, and how to ask for help.
- How EHC plans workHow a plan gets a school place, step by step, with letters you can send.
- Nurseries in Durham107 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools.
Mainstream schools in County Durham
All 222 state mainstream schools, with how many pupils get SEN support or have an EHC plan
Schools in County Durham by need
Autism (12) · Speech and language (8) · Moderate learning (8) · Severe learning (7) · SEMH (6) · Dyslexia and SpLD (6) · PMLD (5) · Hearing (4) · Vision (3) · Physical (2)
Nearby areas
Darlington (7) · Sunderland (15) · Stockton-on-Tees (9) · Hartlepool (7) · Gateshead (8) · Middlesbrough (12) · All areas
Questions parents ask
How many special schools are there in County Durham?
There are 35 SEND schools in County Durham: 9 special schools, 8 independent special schools, 2 alternative provision schools and 16 mainstream schools with an SEN unit or resourced provision.
Which special schools in County Durham support autism?
Croft Community School, Durham Trinity School & Sports College, Evergreen Primary School, Hope Wood Academy, The Oaks Secondary School, Villa Real School, Thornbeck College - North East Autism Society, Bishop Barrington Academy, Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School and Durham Academy, and 2 more.
How do I get a place at a special school in County Durham?
Places at special schools usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child has one, ask County Durham council (or the council that looks after the plan) to consult the school you want. If a council, academy, non-maintained or Section 41 school is named in the plan, it must admit your child.
Who can help me with an EHC plan in County Durham?
County Durham SENDIASS gives free, independent advice on EHC plans, meetings and appeals. The council’s Local Offer explains what support is available locally.
Are there special schools in County Durham for young children?
20 of the schools here take children from age 4 or younger. Choose an age in the filters to see them.
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.