All Local Authorities

SEND Services in Manchester

North WestMetropolitan Borough
Council website

Supporting a child with SEND in Manchester means accessing services across a large metropolitan authority in the North West, where around one in five children have identified special educational needs. The city has a diverse range of specialist provision, including dedicated specialist schools and resourced bases within mainstream settings, alongside mainstream schools offering SEN support. If you're new to the SEND system or navigating an assessment, Manchester's Special Education and Disability Information, Advice and Support service (SENDIASS) can offer free, impartial guidance to help you understand your options and rights. The Manchester Parent Carer Forum also provides peer support and a community of families who understand the SEND journey in your local area.

Whether you're turning to Manchester's SENDIASS for impartial guidance or connecting with the Parent Carer Forum, JakTrack feels like having a trusted companion right in your pocket, helping you feel prepared, supported, and truly in control as you navigate assessments and EHCPs. It quietly builds a clear picture from your everyday notes on sleep, meals, and behaviour, turning fleeting moments into powerful evidence that grows stronger over time - so starting early means walking into every meeting with quiet confidence. Families in Manchester tell us it transforms that overwhelming sense of going it alone into a journey where you're always one step ahead. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

211

Schools

23

Specialist

29

SEN Units & Resource Bases

99,873

Total Pupils

15%receive SEN Support

14,953 pupils

7%have an EHCP

7,027 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 Manchester's Local Offer

IASS

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

Special Education and Disability Information, Advice and Support Manchester (SENDIASS)

Parent Carer Forum

Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF)

Facebook page

SEND Team

Manchester Local Offer SEND Team

Other Services

Early Help Hubs and Early Help Parenting Team

Autism Assessment - Social Communication Pathway

Personal Budgets for SEN

Manchester Parent Champions

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School

Special
Ages 3-11Capacity: 156M22 5DR
AutismSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Bridge College

Special
Ages 16-25M11 2GR
Speech & LanguageModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

IncludEd Learning

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 16M16 8ER
Social & Emotional

Lancasterian School

Special
Ages 3-16Capacity: 181M20 2XA
Specific LearningVisualHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Manchester Jewish School for Special Education

Special
Ages 4-25Capacity: 40M7 4QY
Moderate Learning

Meade Hill School

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 176M9 6GN
Social & Emotional

Melland High School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 149M18 7DT
Severe Learning

North Ridge High School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 200M9 0RP
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Piper Hill High School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 240M23 2YS
Severe Learning

Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School

SpecialOutstanding
Ages 3-11Capacity: 160M9 8LT
Severe LearningProfound & Multiple

Rodney House School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 72M12 4WF
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Southern Cross School

Special
Ages 9-16Capacity: 169M22 4AB
Social & Emotional

The Birches School

SpecialGood
Ages 4-11M20 2XZ
Speech & LanguageAutismSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Camberwell Park Specialist Support School

SpecialInadequate
Ages 3-11Capacity: 188M40 9GJ

Digital Advantage

Special
Ages 16-24Capacity: 54M60 0AS

Grange School

SpecialOutstanding
Ages 4-19Capacity: 220M12 4GR

Manchester Hospital School

SpecialNot judged
Ages 4-16M13 9WL

Orchard House Specialist High School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 150M40 8EZ

Pinc College

Special
Ages 16-25Capacity: 300M13 9PL

Pioneer House High School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 170M23 0FF

The Greens ENS

Special
Ages 5-14Capacity: 40M40 1NZ

The Watkin Centre

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 110M23 9TT

Thompsons Academy trading as Navigators

Special
Ages 16-25M50 3XW

Benchill Primary School

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 3-11Capacity: 574M22 8EJ
Speech & LanguageAutism

Manchester Academy

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1170M14 4PX
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple
Resource base: 17 places

Newall Green Primary School

Primary
Ages 2-11Capacity: 780M23 2YH
Specific LearningVisualHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalPhysicalModerate LearningSevere Learning
Resource base: 6 places

Old Moat Primary School

PrimaryOutstanding
Ages 3-11Capacity: 459M20 3FN
Speech & LanguageAutism

Rushbrook Primary Academy

PrimaryGood
Ages 2-11Capacity: 630M18 7TN
Speech & LanguageAutism

Abraham Moss Community School

All-through
Ages 3-16Capacity: 1830M8 5UF
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalPhysicalModerate LearningSevere Learning
Resource base: 16 places

Alma Park Primary School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 420M19 2PF
Hearing
Resource base: 12 places

Ashbury Meadow Primary School

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 3-11Capacity: 494M11 3NA
Speech & LanguageSocial & Emotional
Resource base: 22 places

Barlow Hall Primary School

Primary
Ages 2-11Capacity: 315M21 7JG
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 7 places

Bowker Vale Primary School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 465M8 4NB
Social & Emotional
Resource base: 9 places

Broad Oak Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 280M20 5QB
Social & Emotional
Resource base: 7 places

Co-op Academy Medlock

PrimaryRequires Improvement
Ages 2-11Capacity: 500M13 9UJ
Speech & Language

Gorton Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 472M18 7GR
Autism
Resource base: 18 places

Higher Openshaw Community School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 345M11 1AJ
Speech & LanguageAutism

Pike Fold Primary School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 459M9 8QP
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 7 places

Rack House Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 2-11Capacity: 510M23 0BT
Speech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning
Resource base: 7 places

Saint Paul's Catholic High School

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-16Capacity: 900M23 2YS

Not Applicable

Resource base: 12 places

St Andrew's CofE Primary School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 450M19 2UH
Hearing
Resource base: 15 places

St Anne's RC Primary School Crumpsall Manchester

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 454M8 5AB
Speech & LanguageSocial & Emotional

St James' CofE Primary School Gorton

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 420M18 8LW
Autism
Resource base: 12 places

St Peter's RC High School

Secondary
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1000M12 4WB
Specific LearningAutism
Resource base: 12 places

St Willibrord's RC Primary School

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 256M11 4WR
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 7 places

The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College

Secondary
Ages 11-16Capacity: 900M20 6BX
Autism
Resource base: 16 places

Webster Primary School

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 3-11Capacity: 420M15 6JU
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 8 places

William Hulme's Grammar School

All-through
Ages 3-18Capacity: 1300M16 8PR
Specific LearningVisualAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate LearningSevere Learning
Resource base: 12 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 Manchester.

To request a statutory assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Manchester, contact Manchester City Council through their SEND services or speak to your child's school. They will guide you on submitting a formal request, which starts the process to assess if your child needs an EHCP. For free, impartial advice on this, call SENDIASS Manchester at 0161 209 8356 or email [email protected].
Manchester's SENDIASS (Special Education and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service) offers free, confidential and impartial help to parents, carers and young people aged 0-25 with SEND. They provide information on EHCPs, SEND support in schools, local policies, preparing for meetings, and challenging decisions. Contact them at 0161 209 8356 or [email protected] for support.
Manchester has 23 specialist SEND schools and 23 schools with resource bases for children with special educational needs, plus 6 schools with SEN units. These provisions support the 7,027 pupils with EHCPs and 14,953 on SEN support out of 99,873 total pupils. More details are available on Manchester's Local Offer.
The Local Offer is a guide to all SEND services, support and provisions available in Manchester for children and young people aged 0-25. It covers education, health and care options. Find it at hsm.manchester.gov.uk/kb5/manchester/directory/home.page.
The law sets a 20-week maximum for the full EHCP assessment and plan process, but times can vary in Manchester depending on individual cases. SENDIASS can explain the stages and help track progress. Contact them at 0161 209 8356 for personalised advice.

Navigating SEND in Manchester?

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