Schools with moderate learning difficulties provision in Dorset

For pupils who learn at a slower pace across the curriculum and need work adapted for them. Dorset has 5 mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties and 4 special schools that cater for it.

Mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision (5)

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
West Moors Middle SchoolMiddle school · also autism, multi-sensory impairment, other needs and more	Resourced provision	9-13	Ferndown	10	Report card 2026	49
Bincombe Valley Primary SchoolPrimary school · also autism, speech, language and communication	SEN unit and resourced provision	2-11	Weymouth	28	Report card 2026	10
Harbour Vale SchoolPupil referral unit / alternative provision · also autism, social, emotional and mental health	Resourced provision	5-16	Sherborne	34	Good 2024	–
Budmouth Academy WeymouthSecondary school · also autism, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment and more	SEN unit and resourced provision	11-18	Weymouth	266	Requires improvement 2024	11
The Thomas Hardye SchoolSecondary school · also autism, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment and more	SEN unit and resourced provision	13-18	Dorchester	20	No overall grade 2025	60

Special schools (4)

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 autism, severe learning difficulties	Special school	4-19	Wimborne	241 pupils	Good 2023	–
Mountjoy SchoolSpecial school · also autism, hearing impairment, other needs, physical disability and more	Special school	4-19	Beaminster	112 pupils	Good 2022	–
Westfield Arts CollegeSpecial school · also autism	Special school	4-19	Weymouth	233 pupils	Outstanding 2023	–
Yewstock SchoolSpecial school · also autism, 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

Autism Speech, language and communication Social, emotional and mental health 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.