There are 37 SEND schools in Dorset: 6 special schools, 11 independent special schools, 4 alternative provision schools and 16 mainstream schools with an SEN unit or resourced provision. Between them they support autism (13), speech, language and communication needs (11), moderate learning difficulties (9) and physical disabilities (7), among other needs.
37 schools
Special schools first, then A to Z.
- Beaucroft Foundation SchoolAutism, Moderate learning, Severe learning
- Harbour School DorsetAutism, SEMH
- Mountjoy SchoolVision, Hearing, Speech and language and 5 more
- Westfield Arts CollegeAutism, Moderate learning
- Wyvern Academy
- Yewstock SchoolSpeech and language, Autism, Multi-sensory and 4 more
- Arbour House School
- Aurora Beeches School
- Aurora Boveridge College
- Employ My Ability (EMA) Ltd
- Graduately Developing Futures
- Kingfisher School
- Millie College
- Sheiling College
- Sheiling School
- The Forum School
- The Luccombe Hub
- Dorchester Learning Centre
- Harbour Vale SchoolAutism, SEMH, Moderate learning
- The Compass
- The Forum Centre
- Beaminster SchoolSpeech and language
- Bincombe Valley Primary SchoolSpeech and language, Autism, Moderate learning
- Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolSpeech and language
- Budmouth Academy WeymouthDyslexia and SpLD, Vision, Hearing and 7 more
- Damers First School
- Dorchester Middle SchoolPhysical
- Ferndown Upper SchoolSpeech and language
- Gillingham Primary SchoolAutism
- Parley First SchoolDyslexia and SpLD, Autism
- St Mary's Church of England Middle School, PuddletownSpeech and language, Autism
- The Gryphon SchoolDyslexia and SpLD
- The Prince of Wales SchoolPhysical
- The Thomas Hardye SchoolDyslexia and SpLD, Vision, Hearing and 6 more
- The Woodroffe SchoolSpeech and language
- West Moors Middle SchoolDyslexia and SpLD, Speech and language, Autism and 4 more
- Wyke Regis Infant School and NurserySEMH
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No school here matches all of those. or choose fewer needs.
Free help in Dorset
- Dorset SENDIASSFree, independent advice on EHC plans, choosing a school, meetings and appeals.
- Dorset 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 Dorset130 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools.
Mainstream schools in Dorset
All 131 state mainstream schools, with how many pupils get SEN support or have an EHC plan
Schools in Dorset by need
Autism (13) · Speech and language (11) · Moderate learning (9) · Physical (7) · SEMH (6) · Dyslexia and SpLD (5) · Severe learning (4) · Multi-sensory (4) · Hearing (3) · Vision (3) · PMLD (2)
Nearby areas
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (17) · Somerset (33) · Wiltshire (16) · Southampton (11) · Bath and North East Somerset (6) · Isle of Wight (5) · All areas
Questions parents ask
How many special schools are there in Dorset?
There are 37 SEND schools in Dorset: 6 special schools, 11 independent special schools, 4 alternative provision schools and 16 mainstream schools with an SEN unit or resourced provision.
Which special schools in Dorset support autism?
Beaucroft Foundation School, Harbour School Dorset, Mountjoy School, Westfield Arts College, Yewstock School, Harbour Vale School, Bincombe Valley Primary School, Budmouth Academy Weymouth, Gillingham Primary School and Parley First School, and 3 more.
How do I get a place at a special school in Dorset?
Places at special schools usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child has one, ask Dorset 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 Dorset?
Dorset 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 Dorset for young children?
12 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.