Schools with autism provision in Dorset

Autism units and resourced provisions give autistic pupils a base with specialist staff while they join mainstream classes for as much as suits them. Dorset has 8 mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision for autism and 5 special schools that cater for it.

Mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision (8)

Pupils have a specialist base and staff inside an ordinary school. Places are separate from the school's main admissions and normally need an EHC plan.

School	Provision	Ages	Town	Places	Ofsted	Score
St Mary's Church of England Middle School, PuddletownMiddle school · also other needs, speech, language and communication	Resourced provision	9-13	Dorchester	10	Good 2019	58
West Moors Middle SchoolMiddle school · also moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment, other needs and more	Resourced provision	9-13	Ferndown	10	Report card 2026	49
Bincombe Valley Primary SchoolPrimary school · also moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication	SEN unit and resourced provision	2-11	Weymouth	28	Report card 2026	10
Gillingham Primary SchoolPrimary school	Resourced provision	4-11	Gillingham	14	Report card 2026	4
Parley First SchoolPrimary school · also specific learning difficulties	Resourced provision	4-9	Ferndown	7	Good 2023	39
Harbour Vale SchoolPupil referral unit / alternative provision · also moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health	Resourced provision	5-16	Sherborne	34	Good 2024	–
Budmouth Academy WeymouthSecondary school · also hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment and more	SEN unit and resourced provision	11-18	Weymouth	266	Requires improvement 2024	11
The Thomas Hardye SchoolSecondary school · also hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment and more	SEN unit and resourced provision	13-18	Dorchester	20	No overall grade 2025	60

Special schools (5)

Special schools take pupils with an education, health and care plan; the council names the school in the plan. Many cater for several needs.

School	Provision	Ages	Town	Places	Ofsted	Score
Beaucroft Foundation SchoolSpecial school · also moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties	Special school	4-19	Wimborne	241 pupils	Good 2023	–
Harbour School DorsetSpecial school · also social, emotional and mental health	Special school	10-19		145 pupils	Good 2023	–
Mountjoy SchoolSpecial school · also hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties, other needs, physical disability and more	Special school	4-19	Beaminster	112 pupils	Good 2022	–
Westfield Arts CollegeSpecial school · also moderate learning difficulties	Special school	4-19	Weymouth	233 pupils	Outstanding 2023	–
Yewstock SchoolSpecial school · also moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, profound and multiple learning difficulties and more	Special school	2-19	Sturminster Newton	167 pupils	Outstanding 2023	–

Other councils All schools in Dorset

Other needs

Speech, language and communication Social, emotional and mental health Moderate learning difficulties Severe learning difficulties Profound and multiple learning difficulties Hearing impairment Visual impairment Multi-sensory impairment Physical disability Specific learning difficulties Other needs

How to read this

The list comes from the Department for Education's register of schools (Get Information about Schools), which records the type of SEN provision each school has and how many pupils are in a resourced provision or SEN unit. Resourced provision means extra staff and funding for a group of pupils who spend most of their time in ordinary classes. A SEN unit is a separate class within the school. Both need a place agreed by the council through an education, health and care plan; ask the council's SEND team, not the school's admissions office. The register is only as good as what schools report, so check with the school before relying on it.