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SEND Services in Knowsley

North WestMetropolitan Borough
Council website

In Knowsley, a metropolitan borough in the North West with a strong focus on inclusive growth, SEND support is actively improving through council plans to expand specialist provision in schools and strengthen partnerships for better outcomes. Families can turn to the Liverpool & Knowsley SENDIASS from Barnardo's for free, impartial advice at any stage of their child's journey. Recent initiatives like the joint Knowsley and Liverpool event on post-16 education, training, and employment opportunities show a commitment to helping young people with SEND build confidence and independence as they transition to adulthood. You're not alone - local services are here to guide and reassure you every step of the way.

As you navigate Knowsley's expanding SEND support and work towards those post-16 transitions, having a clear picture of your child's needs and progress makes all the difference. JakTrack sits quietly in the background, capturing the everyday moments that matter - how your child sleeps, eats, learns, and copes - and turning them into organised evidence that's ready whenever you need it, whether that's for a review meeting, a benefits application, or working through your child's EHCP. Starting early means by the time those crucial conversations come around, you'll have months of real patterns and insights at your fingertips, so you can walk in feeling prepared and heard rather than scrambling to remember what happened when. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

63

Schools

6

Specialist

3

SEN Units & Resource Bases

21,716

Total Pupils

16.9%receive SEN Support

3,674 pupils

7.6%have an EHCP

1,651 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 Knowsley's Local Offer

IASS

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

Liverpool & Knowsley SENDIASS (Barnardo's)

Parent Carer Forum

Knowsley Parent Carer Forum (KPCF)

SEND Team

Knowsley Council SEND Team

Occupational Therapy

Mersey Care NHS (via Knowsley Local Offer)

Speech and Language Therapy

Mersey Care NHS (via Knowsley Local Offer)

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Alt Bridge School

SpecialGood
Ages 11-19Capacity: 230L36 7TA
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismModerate Learning

Bluebell Park School

Special
Ages 3-19Capacity: 201L32 3XP
AutismPhysicalSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Finch Woods Academy

SpecialInadequate
Ages 9-16Capacity: 92L26 0TY
Social & Emotional

Knowsley Central School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 110L36 7SY
Specific LearningVisualSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Lawrence House School

Special
Ages 11-18Capacity: 28L36 5SJ
OtherAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning

Activate

Special
Ages 16-25L32 9PW

Northwood Community Primary School (With Designated Special Provision)

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 572L33 8XD
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere Learning
SEN unit: 48 places

Yew Tree Primary Academy

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 262L26 1UU
Speech & LanguageAutism

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 Knowsley.

To request a statutory assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Knowsley, contact Knowsley Council via their website at www.knowsley.gov.uk where a request form is available. You can also get free, impartial advice from Liverpool & Knowsley SENDIASS by calling 0333 323 7768 or emailing [email protected] to understand the process. They can guide you on local policies and next steps.
Liverpool & Knowsley SENDIASS, run by Barnardo's, offers free, confidential advice on SEND law, EHCPs, school support, transitions, transport, appeals, and complaints for children and families in Knowsley. They provide a helpline (0333 323 7768, Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm), 1:1 support at meetings for those who qualify, and monthly drop-ins for form help. Email them at [email protected] for legally-based information and signposting to services.
Knowsley has 6 specialist schools and 3 schools with resource bases for children with SEND, out of 63 total schools serving 21,716 pupils. About 1,651 pupils (7.6%) have an EHCP, and 3,674 (16.9%) receive SEN support. More details on provisions are in the Knowsley Local Offer at knowsleyinfo.co.uk/knowsley-local-offer-send.
The Knowsley Local Offer is a guide to all SEND services, support, and provisions available for children and young people in the area, including education, health, and social care. You can find it at knowsleyinfo.co.uk/knowsley-local-offer-send, which also links to the Knowsley Parent Carer Forum (KPCF). It helps parents explore options like EHCPs and specialist schools.
The standard EHCP process in Knowsley, like nationwide, aims to complete the assessment within 20 weeks from the request date, but times can vary due to complexity or demand. Contact Knowsley Council or Liverpool & Knowsley SENDIASS (0333 323 7768) for current local timelines and support through the process. Check the Local Offer for detailed guidance on stages and expectations.

Navigating SEND in Knowsley?

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