Schools with severe learning difficulties provision in Somerset

For pupils with significant intellectual disabilities who need support with independence and communication as well as learning. Somerset has 2 mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision for severe learning difficulties and 5 special schools that cater for it.

Mainstream schools with a unit or resourced provision (2)

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
Brookside Community Primary SchoolPrimary school · also autism, hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties and more	SEN unit	3-11	Street	51	Good 2023	28
Northgate Primary SchoolPrimary school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication	SEN unit	2-11	Bridgwater	7	Report card 2026	67

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
Avalon SchoolSpecial school · also autism, hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment and more	Special school	11-19	Street	81 pupils	Good 2023	–
Critchill Special SchoolSpecial school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties	Special school	4-19	Frome	96 pupils	No overall grade 2024	–
Fiveways Special SchoolSpecial school · also profound and multiple learning difficulties	Special school	4-19	Yeovil	100 pupils	Outstanding 2024	–
Polden Bower SchoolSpecial school · also autism, hearing impairment, moderate learning difficulties, multi-sensory impairment and more	Special school	4-19	Bridgwater	260 pupils	Good 2024	–
Selworthy Special SchoolSpecial school · also autism, moderate learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties	Special school	4-19	Taunton	204 pupils	Good 2023	–

Other councils All schools in Somerset

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.