Local Offer - Specialist Provision

This is setting which can offer more specialised education to children who have a long term, significant and complex needs.

Most children do not need to attend a special school, as they are able to thrive within mainstream schools with adjustments to their learning environment. These adjustments are made through the use of special education need (SEN) support or through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). See our pages on Support for Learners for more information. 

There are nine special schools in Doncaster, these school range from independent, maintained by the local authority, academies or free schools.

These are the difference between independent specialist, maintained specialists, academy, free school, and Section 41 schools.

Independent special schools are are schools that are not funded, organised or controlled by central government or a local authority. They are usually privately run and fees are paid for children to attend attend. They are inspected by Ofsted or Independent Schools Inspectorate. They are sometimes referred to as private schools. 

Maintained special schools are overseen by the local authority and inspected by Ofsted. These may also be referred to as community special schools. 

Academy special schools are overseen by the Secretary of State and inspected by Ofsted.

Section 41 schools are independent special schools which have been approved by the Secretary of State under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act. These schools can be requested by parents, or a young person, to be named in Section I of an EHCP, in the same way a maintained setting can be requested. You can find a list of Section 41 schools here.

To access a specialist school a child/young person requires an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) specifying a specialist placement.

To request this type of placement a parent/carer or young person would put forward their preferred school setting through a EHCP annual review or if the EHCP is new at draft stage.

When a request is made for a particular nursery, school or post-16 institution, the local authority (LA) must comply with the preference and name the school or college in the EHCP unless:

• it would be unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the child or young person, or
• the attendance of the child or young person there would be incompatible with the efficient education of others, or the efficient use of resources.

This process of the LA communicating with school preference is called consultation process, in where the LA consult with the settings to find out which setting would be the best fit for your child.

If your child has an EHCP and the LA agree your child/young person requires a specialist placement, you will be notified of this as part of the EHCP process.

Even though you may have been told that your child requires a specialist placement, this does not mean they have to attend one as all children have a right to be educated at mainstream setting.

If a school has been named in your child's EHCP, they must admit your child.

Name	Specialises In	Age Range	Type of School	Address	Telephone
Abbey School	MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Complex Learning Difficulty	5 - 19 years	Academy	Little Common Lane, Kimberworth, Rotherham, S61 2RA	01709 740074
Abbeywood School	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder	10 - 18 years	Independent	Rother Way, Hellaby Industrial Estate, Rotherham, S66 8QN	01709 916900
Elements Academy	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	7 - 16 years	Free School	Doe Quarry Lane Dinnington, S25 2NF	01909 212231
Hill Top School	SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty	2 - 19 years	Academy	Larch Road, Maltby, Rotherham, S66 8AZ	01709 813386
Kelford School	SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty	2 - 19 years	Academy	Oakdale Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham, S61 2NU	01709 512088
Milton School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty	4 - 16 years	Academy	Storey Street, Swinton, Mexborough, S64 8QG	01709 570246
Newman School	SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty VI - Visual Impairment OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability HI - Hearing Impairment SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment PD - Physical Disability MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty	2 - 19 years	Maintained	East Bawtry Road, Rotherham, S60 3LX	01709 828262
The Willows School	SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty	7 - 19 years	Academy	Locksley Drive, Thurcroft, Rotherham, S66 9NT	01709 542539

 

Name	Specialises In	Age Range	Type of School	Address	Telephone
Archdale School	VI - Visual Impairment HI - Hearing Impairment SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment PD - Physical Disability SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty	3 - 11 years	Maintained	Archdale Road, Sheffield, S2 1PL	01142 726165
Becton School	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	5 - 18 years	Academy	Sevenairs Road, Beighton, Sheffield, S20 1NZ	01143 053121
Bents Green School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty	11 - 19 years	Maintained	Ringinglow Road, Sheffield, S11 7TB	01142 363545
Brantwood Specialist School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	7 - 19 years	Independent	1 Kenwood Bank, Nether Edge, Sheffield, S7 1NU	01142 589062
Discovery Academy	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	7 - 16 years	Free School	Park Grange Road, Norfolk Park, Sheffield, S2 3QF
Heritage Park School	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	6 - 16 years	Maintained	Norfolk Park Road, Sheffield, S2 2RU	01142 796850
Holgate Meadows School	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	6 - 16 years	Maintained	Lindsay Road, Sheffield, S5 7WE	01142 456305
Kenwood Academy	Communication and Interaction SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	11 - 19 years	Academy	9 Moncrieffe Road, Nether Edge, Sheffield, S7 1HQ
Mossbrook School	OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty	4 - 11 years	Maintained	Bochum Parkway, Sheffield, S8 8JR	01142 372768
Paces School for Conductive Education	PD - Physical Disability MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty	3 - 18 years	Non-Maintained	Paces High Green Centre, Pack Horse Lane, High Green, Sheffield, S35 3HY	01142 845298
Phoenix School of Therapeutic Education	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	11 - 17 years	Independent	83 East Bank Road, Sheffield, S2 3PX	01142 793350
Seven Hills School	PD - Physical Disability PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty	11 - 19 years	Maintained	Granville Road, Sheffield, S2 2RJ	01142 743560
Talbot Specialist School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty	11 - 19 years	Maintained	Lees Hall Road, Sheffield, S8 9JP	01142 507394
The Rowan School	SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder	4 - 11 years	Maintained	4 Durvale Court, Furniss Avenue, Sheffield, S17 3PT	01142 350479
Woolley Wood School	SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty	3 - 11 years	Maintained	Chaucer Road, Sheffield, S5 9QN	01142 327160

Name	Specialises In	Age Range	Type of School	Address	Telephone
Greenacre School	SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex Learning Difficulty Specific Speech and Language Difficulties	3 - 19 years	Academy	Keresforth Hill Road, Barnsley, S70 6RG	01226 287165
Park House School	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	7 - 17 years	Independent	Wentworth Way, Tankersley, Barnsley, S75 3DH	01226 744870
Springwell Special Academy	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	5 - 16 years	Academy	St Helen's Boulevard, Carlton Road, Barnsley, S71 2AY	01226 291133
The Robert Ogden School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty	5 - 19 years	Independent	Clayton Lane, Thurnscoe, Barnsley, S63 0BG	01709 874443
Waterton Newstead Academy	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	5 - 11 years	Independent	Newstead Road, Athersley, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 3NA	01226 395983

Name	Specialises In	Age Range	Type of School	Address	Telephone
Best Futures	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	5 - 11 years	Independent	The Stables, Church Lane, Aylesbury, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN37 7AW	01472 278978
Cambridge Park Academy	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty	3 - 19 years	Academy	Cambridge Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN34 5EB	01472 230110
Humberston Park School	SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty	3 - 19 years	Academy	St Thomas Close, Humberston, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN36 4HS	01472 590645
The Orchard Independent Special School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	12 - 16 years	Independent	Unit 1, Sargon Way, Great Grimsby Business Park, Grimsby, DN37 9PH	01472 898498

Name	Specialises In	Age Range	Type of School	Address	Telephone
Hall Cliffe Primary School	ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Needs	5 - 13 years	Independent	7 Wrenthorpe Lane, Wrenthorpe, Wakefield, WF2 0QB	01924 614490
Hall Cliffe School	ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	8 - 16 years	Independent	Dovecote Lane, Horbury, Wakefield, WF4 6BB	01924 663420
Ivy Lane School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Learning Disability	11 - 19 years	Independent	Ivy Lane, Wakefield, WF1 4AZ	01924 927280
Kingsland Primary School	ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty	2 - 11 years	Maintained	Aberford Road, Stanley, Wakefield, WF3 4BA	01924 828990
Meadowcroft School	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health	5 - 19 years	Independent	24 Bar Lane, Wakefield, WF1 4AD	01924 366242
The Grange School	SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder MLD - Multiple Learning Difficulty	7 - 14 years	Independent	2 Milner Way, Ossett, West Yorkshire, Wakefield, WF5 9JE	01924 278957

If your child has an EHCP, you have a right to request any of the following types of school or college:

• A maintained school or nursery (mainstream or special)
• An Academy (mainstream or special)
• An institution in the Further Education sector
• A non-maintained special school
• A Section 41 school

The local authority (LA) will usually only agree to offer to place in a independent special school if there are no suitable places in a local maintained special school and:

• The school is suitable for the child’s special educational needs
• The head teacher agrees to offer a place
• The placement is an efficient use of public money

The LA must have regard to the general principle that children should be educated in accordance with their parents’ wishes, as long as this is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and training and does not mean unreasonable public expenditure. 

You can appeal the local authority decision if this is about a school on the Section 41 list. 

If your appeal is about a placement at an independent school (one that is not on the Section 41 approved list) then you have to rely on 'Section 9 of the Education Act 1996' which states that Local Authorities should consider parental wishes regarding school placement so long as the school is appropriate for the child's needs and does not represent an inefficient use of public resources.  

 This means that you have to prove that the independent school you have chosen is:

• an appropriate placement in terms of your child's needs
• either the same or less expensive that the school/placement named by the local authority.

Doncaster SENDIAS can provide more information about appeals.

Contact SENDIAS:

• Telephone: 01302 736920
• Email: sendias@doncaster.gov.uk 
• Facebook: Doncaster SENDIAS

If a local authority names an independent school or college in a child or young person's EHCP, as special educational provision, it must also meet the costs of the fees including any boarding and lodging costs, where relevant.

You can express a preference for a place in an independent school or college that is not on the Section 41 list. However, the local authority is not under any duty to meet your request and the school or college does not have a duty to admit a child or young person even if the school list named in their EHCP.

If the school is approved under Section 41 Children and Families Act 2014 and named in EHCP then they must adhere to the SEND Code of Practice.

Every child who has been identified by the local authority (LA) as having SEND will have their individual travel assistance needs assessed against set agreed criteria, taking into account their age, mobility and the effect of their SEND on their ability to travel. If it is concluded that a child does not require transport assistance under this section, then consideration will be given under the other sections of this policy as appropriate.

Travel assistance will not be provided where the LA has identified a setting which is able to meet a child's needs but the parents/carers chooses to send their child to a setting, of the same type, which is further away. 

Travel assistance comes in many forms, and does not mean transportation to and from a setting. A child may be offered travel assistance in the form of: a Zoom Zero Fare Bus Pass, a refund of travel expenses, etc. Further details of travel assistance which may be provided can be found in the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2022 - 2027.

If a child attends an out of area provision which is named in their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), this place is funded by their home local authority.

If you think your child may have special educational needs, you should read the information on our SEN Support page.

If you think your child may require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), this should be requested through Doncaster local authority (LA). This is because it is the home LA's responsibility to decide whether to complete an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment, which will determine whether an Education, Health and Care Plan is required.

Your child's school can also request an EHC needs assessment from Doncaster LA if they believe this would be required.

In accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014, all local authorities (LA) must consider how children can be supported to achieve the best possible educational outcomes. If a child, who has special educational needs, attends a school in a neighbouring authority it is the responsibility of the home LA (City of Doncaster Council) to provide support to the child. This can include help from professionals and specialist support services such as Educational Psychologists (EPs), behaviour outreach, autism specialists and early years professionals. 

Where a child or young person lives in Doncaster and has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), it is Doncaster local authority who must ensure that the special educational provision set out in the plan is being provided. They are also responsible for completing the annual review of the EHCP.

If the child or young person is placed, by a local authority, in a residential placement, consideration should be given to making sure this is a close to home as possible. Where the local authority names a residential provision, in section I of the EHCP which is a long way from home, the local authority must provide reasonable transport or travel assistance; for example, reimbursement of public transport costs, petrol costs or provision of a travel pass.

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and you move outside of the local authority (LA) area, this may trigger an annual review of your child's EHCP by the new local authority area. The new LA may decide to carry out a full reassessment of your child's needs, or it may decide to carry out the annual review within:

• 3 months of the EHCP being transferred to the new LA or
• 12 months of your child's last annual review or when the EHCP was first made.

The new LA may decide that the setting named in your child's EHCP is no longer suitable, meaning they will consult with other settings to find the most suitable placement for your child. It's also possible that the new LA may decide that your child's EHCP is no longer required, so they will cease the EHCP altogether. If either of these scenarios happen, you have the right to appeal these decisions. 

If your child does not have an EHCP and attends a mainstream setting, they can continue to access this setting.