Local Offer: special schools and specialist schools

Special schools

Special schools cater for children and young people with learning difficulties, who may also have other associated difficulties such as autism, sensory impairment or physical disability.

West Berkshire has two special schools, Brookfields School in Tilehurst and The Castle School in Newbury. Both cater for children with learning difficulties aged 2 to 19. Children who attend The Castle or Brookfields may also have additional difficulties such as autism, a physical disability or sensory impairment, but they must have a learning difficulty in order to attend one of these schools.

In a small number of cases, children may attend a special school maintained by another Local Authority or a non maintained or independent special school, if their needs can't be met in West Berkshire's own SEN provision.

An Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan is needed for a child to attend a special school.

Specialist schools

Specialist schools cater for children and young people with a severe specific special educational need, such as autism, social emotional and mental health needs or a physical disability.

An Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan is needed for a child to attend a specialist school.