All Local Authorities

SEND Services in Cheshire West and Chester

North WestUnitary Authority
Council website

In Cheshire West and Chester, a mix of urban and rural communities, SEND support is shaped by growing demand that outpaces funding, much like the national trend, though EHCP rates stand higher than the England average. The local authority is tackling challenges like service gaps in early years and inconsistent communication through its SEND Strategy 2025-26, which prioritises better school placements, fewer exclusions, and stronger post-16 options, informed by a recent joint strategic needs assessment and family voices via the Parent Carer Forum. Families can turn to Cheshire West & Chester SENDIASS for impartial guidance, while ongoing scrutiny and collaboration with health and education partners aim to build trust and meaningful change.

As you navigate the SEND journey in Cheshire West and Chester - whether you're building a case for an EHCP assessment, preparing for crucial meetings, or simply trying to make sense of your child's needs - JakTrack walks alongside you. By helping you capture and organise the everyday evidence that matters (sleep patterns, behaviour shifts, how your child responds to different situations), the app transforms scattered observations into a clear picture you can share with professionals, reducing the anxiety of "Will I remember to mention that?" and giving you genuine confidence when you sit down at the table. Starting early with JakTrack means you're building a meaningful record from the moment you need it most, so when conversations about support and assessment happen, you're not scrambling to reconstruct the past - you're ready, informed, and in control. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

178

Schools

18

Specialist

14

SEN Units & Resource Bases

55,306

Total Pupils

13.7%receive SEN Support

7,551 pupils

5.9%have an EHCP

3,260 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 Cheshire West and Chester's Local Offer

IASS

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

Cheshire West & Chester SENDIASS

Parent Carer Forum

Parent Carer Forum Cheshire West

SEND Team

SEN Team

SEN Team, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA

Occupational Therapy

NHS Children's OT (via SEN Team)

Speech and Language Therapy

Cheshire West Integrated Children's Services (SALT)

Other Services

Home to School Transport / Travel Assistance

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Archers Brook SEMH Residential School

SpecialNot judged
Ages 9-16Capacity: 103CH66 2NA
Social & Emotional

Cloughwood Academy

Special
Ages 8-18Capacity: 120CW8 1NU
Social & Emotional

Dee Banks School

Special
Ages 2-19CH3 5UX
AutismSevere Learning

Dorin Park School & Specialist SEN College

Special
Ages 2-19CH2 1HD
VisualHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Greenbank School

SpecialNot judged
Ages 11-19Capacity: 133CW8 1LD
Speech & LanguageAutism

Hebden Green Community School

Special
Ages 2-19CW7 4EJ
Specific LearningOtherSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Hinderton School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 61CH65 7AQ
Autism

iMap Centre

Special
Ages 7-19Capacity: 20CH3 7JA
Autism

Oaklands School

Special
Ages 11-17CW7 1NU
Moderate Learning

Rivacre Brook

Special
Ages 7-18Capacity: 42CH65 1AN
Social & Emotional

Rosebank School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 49CW8 4QP
Speech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning

The Russett School

Special
Ages 2-19Capacity: 95CW8 3BW
Severe Learning

Abbey School for Exceptional Children

Special
Ages 4-19Capacity: 150CH1 2HU

Adventure Wellbeing School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 98CW9 7TN

Fern House School and College

Special
Ages 7-19Capacity: 40WA6 6LB

Maple Grove School

Special
Ages 5-18Capacity: 51CH2 3HR

Oak Cottage

Special
Ages 7-11Capacity: 32WA16 9LU

Petty Pool College

Special
Ages 16-25Capacity: 125CW8 2DR

Acresfield Academy

PrimaryOutstanding
Ages 3-11Capacity: 236CH2 1LJ
Profound & Multiple
Resource base: 9 places

Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School

PrimaryOutstanding
Ages 2-11Capacity: 505CW8 4QL
OtherSpeech & Language
Resource base: 15 places

Darnhall Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 2-11Capacity: 405CW7 1JL
Social & Emotional
Resource base: 7 places

Dee Point Primary School

PrimaryRequires Improvement
Ages 3-11Capacity: 420CH1 5NF
OtherSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning
Resource base: 15 places

Frodsham Primary Academy

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 2-11Capacity: 133WA6 7PZ
Autism
Resource base: 7 places

Grange Community Nursery and Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 210CW7 2EG
Moderate Learning

Lache Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 258CH4 8HX
Social & Emotional

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 315CW7 2JS
Autism
Resource base: 8 places

St Nicholas Catholic High School

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1240CW8 1JW
Autism
Resource base: 12 places

The Catholic High School, Chester

Secondary
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1117CH4 7HS
Autism
Resource base: 15 places

Upton Westlea Primary School

PrimaryRequires Improvement
Ages 3-11Capacity: 210CH2 1QJ
Autism
Resource base: 10 places

Willow Wood Community Nursery and Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 446CW7 3HN
Moderate Learning
Resource base: 7 places

Witton Church Walk CofE Aided Nursery and Primary School

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 2-11Capacity: 280CW9 5QQ
Speech & Language

Woodlands Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 2-11Capacity: 682CH66 2JT
Autism

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 Cheshire West and Chester.

To request a statutory assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Cheshire West and Chester, contact the local authority through their website or SEND team to discuss your child's needs. They will guide you on providing evidence from professionals like teachers or doctors. For free, impartial advice on the process, reach out to Cheshire West & Chester SENDIASS.
Cheshire West & Chester SENDIASS offers free, confidential information, advice, and support to children, young people, and parents on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including EHCPs, the Local Offer, and linked health and social care. They help with understanding your rights, preparing for meetings, and resolving disagreements through mediation or appeals. Contact them for guidance on school admissions, exclusions, and annual reviews.
There are 18 specialist schools in Cheshire West and Chester for children with special educational needs. Additionally, 14 mainstream schools have resource bases to support SEND pupils. Around 3,260 pupils have an EHCP, showing strong specialist provision in the area.
The Local Offer is a guide to all SEND services, support, and provisions available for children and young people aged 0-25 in Cheshire West and Chester. It covers education, health, and social care options. Find it on the council's website at the special educational needs section.
The statutory EHCP assessment process in Cheshire West and Chester follows national timelines, where the local authority must decide within 6 weeks if an assessment is needed, and issue the final EHCP within 20 weeks if approved. Delays can happen, so contact Cheshire West & Chester SENDIASS for support tracking your application. Check the Local Offer for the latest details on timelines.

Navigating SEND in Cheshire West and Chester?

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