Schools with severe learning difficulties provision in Manchester

For pupils with significant intellectual disabilities who need support with independence and communication as well as learning. Manchester has 3 mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision for severe learning difficulties and 7 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
Abraham Moss Community SchoolAll-through school · also autism, hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties and more	Resourced provision	3-16	Manchester	16	Not inspected	30
William Hulme's Grammar SchoolAll-through school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health and more	Resourced provision	3-18	Manchester	12	Not inspected	82
Newall Green Primary SchoolPrimary school · also autism, hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties and more	SEN unit and resourced provision	2-11	Manchester	37	Good 2023	7

Special schools (7)

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
Ashgate Specialist Support Primary SchoolSpecial school · also autism, profound and multiple learning difficulties	Special school	3-11	Manchester	157 pupils	Not inspected	–
Bridge CollegeSpecial school · also moderate learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, speech, language and communication	Special school	16-25	Manchester	– pupils	Not inspected	–
Lancasterian SchoolSpecial school · also autism, hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment and more	Special school	3-16	Manchester	196 pupils	Not inspected	–
Melland High SchoolSpecial school	Special school	11-19	Gorton	256 pupils	Outstanding 2024	–
Piper Hill High SchoolSpecial school	Special school	11-19	Manchester	285 pupils	Outstanding 2023	–
Prospect House Specialist Support Primary SchoolSpecial school · also profound and multiple learning difficulties	Special school	3-11	Manchester	160 pupils	Outstanding 2023	–
The Birches SchoolSpecial school · also autism, profound and multiple learning difficulties, speech, language and communication	Special school	4-11	Manchester	168 pupils	Good 2024	–

Other councils All schools in Manchester

Other needs

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