Schools with severe learning difficulties provision in Essex
For pupils with significant intellectual disabilities who need support with independence and communication as well as learning. Essex has 3 mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision for severe learning difficulties and 10 special schools that cater for it.
Mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision (3)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentfield Primary School and NurseryPrimary school | Resourced provision | 3-11 | Stansted | 19 | Good 2024 | 80 |
| Chipping Ongar Primary SchoolPrimary school | Resourced provision | 4-11 | Ongar | 4 | Good 2023 | 53 |
| Maylandsea Primary SchoolPrimary school · also autism | Resourced provision | 5-11 | Chelmsford | 12 | Good 2024 | 33 |
Special schools (10)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castledon SchoolSpecial school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties | Special school | 5-19 | Wickford | 239 pupils | No overall grade 2025 | – |
| Chatten Free SchoolSpecial school · also autism, other needs, profound and multiple learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health and more | Special school | 4-19 | Rivenhall | 75 pupils | Outstanding 2024 | – |
| Glenwood SchoolSpecial school · also profound and multiple learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Benfleet | 263 pupils | Report card 2025 | – |
| Harlow Fields School and CollegeSpecial school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Harlow | 213 pupils | Report card 2026 | – |
| Lexden Springs SchoolSpecial school · also profound and multiple learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Colchester | 301 pupils | Inadequate 2024 | – |
| Lift PioneerSpecial school · also other needs, profound and multiple 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, profound and multiple learning difficulties | Special school | 3-19 | Clacton-on-Sea | 177 pupils | Not inspected | – |
| St John's RC School (Essex)Special school · also moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication | Special school | 5-19 | Woodford Bridge | 102 pupils | Report card 2026 | – |
| 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.