The top SEN schools in the UK

Looking outside the mainstream? Here are some of the top SEN schools in the UK to consider

Abingdon House School

Location: Marylebone, NW1

Area of SEND expertise: Supporting SpLD: dyslexia and dyspraxia, as well as social communication difficulties and associated needs. 

Age range: 5 – 19

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed

Boarding or day: Day

USP: Offers a ‘Highly Commended’ integrated therapy approach

abingdonhouseschool.co.uk

Bredon School

Location: Gloucestershire, GL20

Area of SEND expertise: Supporting SpLD: dyslexia and dyscalculia

Age range: 7-18

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed

Boarding or day: Day and boarding 

USP: Extensive outdoor education curriculum including on-site school farm

bredonschool.org

Bruern Abbey School

Location: Oxfordshire, OX26

Area of SEND expertise: Dyslexia and other learning difficulties

Age range: 7 – 13

Single sex or co-ed: Boys

Boarding or day: Flexible

USP: Specific focus on preparing boys with learning difficulties for entrance to mainstream independent senior schools

bruernabbey.org

Gretton School

Location: Cambridgeshire, CB3 

Area of SEND expertise: Autism and asperger’s

Age range: 5 – 19

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed 

Boarding or day: Day and boarding 

USP: On-site Forest School 

grettonschool.com

The Holmewood School

Location: Finchley, N12 

Area of SEND expertise: Autism and asperger’s

Age range: 7 – 19

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed 

Boarding or day: Day

USP: On-site therapy centre, including award-winning Occupational Therapy cafe 

thsl.org.uk

Appleford School

Location: Wiltshire, SP3

Area of SEND expertise: Dyslexia and other learning specific difficulties such as dyspraxia and dyscalculia

Age range: 7 – 18

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed 

Boarding or day: Boarding

USP: Recently awarded the prestigious ISA award for Outstanding Sport

 appleford.wilts.sch.uk

The Moat School

Location: Fulham, SW6

Area of SEND expertise: Supporting SpLD: dyslexia and dyspraxia

Age range: 9 – 19

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed

Boarding or day: Day

USP: Award-winning programme pairing older and younger pupils to help overcome reading challenges 

moatschool.org.uk

Trinity School & College

Location: Kent, ME1

Area of SEND expertise: Dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism

Age range: 6 – 25

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed 

Boarding or day: Day

USP: New college building opening Sept 2019, featuring hair & beauty salon, restaurant, construction centre etc 

trinityschoolrochester.co.uk

Frewen College

Location: East Sussex, TN31

Area of SEND expertise: For children with specific learning difficulty or speech and language disorder

Age range: 7 – 18

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed

Boarding or day: Day and boarding 

USP: Recently awarded ‘Best Dyslexia Friendly School’ by the British Dyslexia Association 

frewencollege.co.uk

Limpsfield Grange

Location: Oxted, RH8

Area of SEND expertise: For those with communication and interaction needs

Age range: 11 – 16

Single sex or co-ed: Girls

Girls Boarding or day: Day and boarding

USP: Rated Outstanding by Ofsted

 limpsfield-grange.surrey.sch.uk

Morehouse School

Location: Farnham, GU10

Area of SEND expertise: SpLD 

Age range: 8 – 18

Single sex or co-ed: Boys 

Boarding or day: Day and boarding 

USP: Largest school of its kind in Britain

morehouseschool.co.uk

Swalcliffe Park

Location: Oxfordshire, OX15

Area of SEND expertise: ASD

Age range: 11 – 19

Single sex or co-ed: Boys 

Boarding or day: Day and boarding 

USP: Special focus on working alongside children’s families 

swalcliffepark.co.uk

Wilds lodge

Location: East Midlands, LE15 

Area of SEND expertise: Social, emotional and mental health difficulties

Age range: 5 – 19

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed

Boarding or day: Day and boarding 

USP: The school has received nine consecutive Outstanding ratings by Oftsed since opening in 2007 

wildslodgeschool.co.uk

Swiss Cottage

Location: Camden, NW8

Area of SEND expertise: Children with complex learning difficulties 

Age range: 2 – 19

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed 

Boarding or day: Day

USP: As a designated Teaching School, Swiss Cottages works collaboratively with a network of schools and organisations to engage with research and innovation. 

swisscottage.camden.sch.uk

Fairley House

Location: Pimlico, SW1P

Area of SEND expertise: Specific learning difficulties, mainly dyslexia and dyspraxia

Age range: 5 – 16

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed

Boarding or day: Day

USP: The school has separate junior and senior locations 

fairleyhouse.org.uk

Emerson House

Location: Hammersmith, W6

Area of SEND expertise: Supporting SpLD: dyslexia and dyspraxia. Also supports children who are struggling in their existing school.

Age range: 6 – 11

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed

Boarding or day: Day

USP: The headteacher started her career in children’s book publishing 

emersonhouse.co.uk

Maple Ridge

Location: Hampshire, RG21

Area of SEND expertise: Moderate learning difficulties and ASD

Age range: 4 – 11

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed 

Boarding or day: Day

USP: Supports all children and their families by ensuring a safe environment 

mapleridge.hants.sch.uk

Limespring School

Location: East Finchley, N2

Area of SEND expertise: Specialises in supporting children with dyslexia and dyspraxia

Age range: 7 – 11

Single sex or co-ed: Co-ed 

Boarding or day: Day

USP: Maximum class size of eight pupils

limespringschool.co.uk

Further reading: What’s Wrong? Parent Practice expert takes us through a SEN diagnosis