All Local Authorities

SEND Services in Brighton and Hove

South EastUnitary Authority
Council website

In Brighton and Hove, a vibrant coastal city in the South East, SEND support is shaped by a dedicated local strategy running through 2026 that tackles higher-than-average absence and exclusion rates for children with special educational needs while building on strengths like above-national pupil attainment, especially for disadvantaged students. This urban unitary authority offers a range of services beyond mainstream schools, including specialist community disability support, and stands out as one of England's top performers in secondary education outcomes. Parents navigating this system can turn to Amaze SENDIASS for free, impartial advice to help ease the journey and connect with the right local resources.

With Brighton and Hove's local strategy focusing on reducing absences and exclusions through strong support systems, JakTrack empowers families to feel prepared and in control by quietly building a rich evidence base from everyday moments like sleep, meals, and behaviour. Starting early means you'll walk into EHCP reviews or Amaze consultations supported by clear AI-spotted patterns that highlight your child's needs, easing the emotional weight of navigating it all. It's that steady companion, turning routine logs into the confidence you deserve. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

80

Schools

8

Specialist

9

SEN Units & Resource Bases

34,641

Total Pupils

17.9%receive SEN Support

6,200 pupils

5.3%have an EHCP

1,840 pupils

Services & Contacts

Local Offer

Every Local Authority must publish a "Local Offer" - a directory of all SEND services and provision in their area.

View Brighton and Hove's Local Offer

IASS

Free, impartial advice about SEND - EHCPs, school issues, exclusions, navigating the system.

Amaze SENDIASS

Parent Carer Forum

Parent and Carers Council (PaCC)

Local parent/carer voice organisation

EHCP

EHCP request form

SEN Team

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team

SEND Team

Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Service (BHISS)

Educational Psychology

BHISS Educational Psychology Service

Part of Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Service

Occupational Therapy

Seaside View Child Development Centre - Health Occupational Therapy

Speech and Language Therapy

NHS Speech and Language Therapy Service

Works closely with BHISS Autism and Language Team

Social Care

Specialist Community Disability Service (SCDS)

Other Services

Preparing for Adulthood / Transition team

Specialist Community Disability Service (SCDS)

Youth Employability Service (YES)

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health)

Sensory Support Service

BHISS Sensory Needs team

Autism Pathway / Autism Assessment

BHISS Autism Support team

Personal Budgets / Direct Payments

Home to School Transport / Travel Assistance

Early Help / Family Support

Wheelchair Service

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Downs View Special School

Special
Ages 3-19Capacity: 223BN2 6BB
VisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Hamilton Lodge School and College for Deaf Children

Special
Ages 5-19Capacity: 85BN2 0LS
HearingModerate Learning

Hill Park School

SpecialOutstanding
Ages 4-16BN41 2FU
Specific LearningVisualHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

St. John's College (Brighton)

Special
Ages 16-25Capacity: 80BN2 0AF
Moderate LearningSevere Learning

The Lioncare School

Special
Ages 6-16Capacity: 17BN3 5HD
Social & Emotional

Brighton and Hove Clinic School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 16BN3 4FH

Downs View Life Skills College

Special
Ages 19-25Capacity: 50BN1 8XR

Team Domenica

Special
Ages 18-25Capacity: 34BN1 4QE

Bevendean Primary School and Nursery

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 3-11Capacity: 420BN2 4JP
Hearing
Resource base: 12 places

Carden Nursery and Primary School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 420BN1 8LU
Speech & Language
SEN unit: 22 places

Moulsecoomb Primary School

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 3-11Capacity: 607BN2 4PA
Autism

West Blatchington Primary and Nursery School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 445BN3 8BN
Autism
SEN unit: 18 placesResource base: 18 places

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy

SecondaryNot judged
Ages 11-19Capacity: 1150BN1 9PW
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 22 places

Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 5-11Capacity: 436BN3 6NB
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning

Hove Park School and Sixth Form Centre

Secondary
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1664BN3 7BN
Specific LearningAutism
Resource base: 20 places

Longhill High School

SecondaryRequires Improvement
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1200BN2 7FR
Specific Learning
Resource base: 14 places

Understanding school SEND provision

Schools in England provide SEND support at different levels. Here's what each type means:

Specialist School

A school that exclusively educates children with SEND. Smaller classes (typically 6-12 pupils), staff trained in specific needs, and environments designed for children who need more support than mainstream can provide. Places are usually named in an EHCP.

SEN Unit

A dedicated unit within a mainstream school, staffed by specialists. Children are on the roll of the unit but may join mainstream classes for some lessons. Offers a middle ground - specialist support with mainstream social opportunities. Usually requires an EHCP.

Resource Base

Extra resourced provision attached to a mainstream school. Children are on the mainstream roll but can access additional support, equipment, and specialist staff. Some resource bases focus on specific needs like autism or speech and language.

SEN Support (Mainstream)

Every mainstream school has a legal duty to identify and support children with SEND. This includes having a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), providing reasonable adjustments, and putting in place SEN Support plans. You don't need an EHCP for SEN Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from families about SEND support in Brighton and Hove.

You can request an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) by submitting a request form to Brighton and Hove Council. The local authority will then decide within 6 weeks whether to carry out the assessment, and if they agree, they have up to 20 weeks total to complete the process and issue a final EHCP. If you need help with the request, Amaze SENDIASS can provide free advice and support.
Amaze SENDIASS is Brighton and Hove's free Information, Advice and Support Service for families with children who have SEND. They can help you understand the EHCP process, support you through assessments, advise on your rights, and assist with appeals if you disagree with council decisions. You can contact them on 01273 772289 or email [email protected].
Brighton and Hove has 8 specialist schools dedicated to supporting children with SEND, plus 5 schools with SEN units and 4 schools with resource bases that provide specialist support within mainstream settings. This means there are multiple options for specialist provision depending on your child's needs.
The Local Offer is a guide that shows all the education, health and care support available for children and young people with SEND in your area. Brighton and Hove's Local Offer can be found at brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/children-and-education/local-offer and includes information about schools, services, and support available to families.
The whole EHCP process takes up to 20 weeks from when the council receives your request to when they issue the final plan. Within the first 6 weeks, they decide whether to assess; if they agree, they have a further 10 weeks to carry out the assessment and issue a draft plan, followed by 15 calendar days for you to review and comment on the draft before the final plan is issued.

Navigating SEND in Brighton and Hove?

JakTrack helps you track evidence, prepare for EHCP reviews, check benefit eligibility, and stay on top of appointments - all in one place.

See How JakTrack Helps