Schools with profound and multiple learning difficulties provision in Essex
For pupils with profound learning disabilities alongside physical or sensory needs, usually in special schools with nursing support. Essex has 0 mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision for profound and multiple learning difficulties and 8 special schools that cater for it.
Special schools (8)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatten Free SchoolSpecial school · also autism, other needs, social, emotional and mental health, speech, language and communication and more | Special school | 4-19 | Rivenhall | 75 pupils | Outstanding 2024 | – |
| Glenwood SchoolSpecial school · also severe learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Benfleet | 263 pupils | Report card 2025 | – |
| Harlow Fields School and CollegeSpecial school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Harlow | 213 pupils | Report card 2026 | – |
| Lexden Springs SchoolSpecial school · also severe learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Colchester | 301 pupils | Inadequate 2024 | – |
| Lift PioneerSpecial school · also other needs, severe learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Basildon | 201 pupils | Not inspected | – |
| Oak View SchoolSpecial school · also autism, hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment and more | Special school | 3-19 | Loughton | 138 pupils | Good 2022 | – |
| Shorefields SchoolSpecial school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Clacton-on-Sea | 177 pupils | Not inspected | – |
| The Edith Borthwick SchoolSpecial school · also autism, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability and more | Special school | 3-19 | Braintree | 243 pupils | Report card 2026 | – |
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.