All Local Authorities

SEND Services in Medway

South EastUnitary Authority
Council website

In Medway, a unitary authority in the South East blending urban and riverside communities, SEND support focuses on building an inclusive system where children and young people thrive alongside their peers, as outlined in the council's forward-looking SEND Strategy for 2025 to 2028. This strategy, co-produced with families, young people, and partners from education, health, and social care, tackles key barriers like inaccessible environments and attitudes to promote equality and independence. Parents new to the area can turn to the Medway SEND Information Advice and Support service (SENDIAS) for impartial guidance, while ongoing partnership efforts aim to deliver timely help and prepare everyone for a brighter future.

With Medway SENDIAS offering that vital impartial guidance for families stepping into this journey, JakTrack steps in as your everyday companion, quietly gathering daily insights on sleep, meals, and behaviour to help you feel prepared and in control for those key appointments and EHCP moments. As your evidence builds effortlessly over time, starting early brings a real sense of support, turning uncertainty into quiet confidence amid the council's push for independence and equality. You'll walk into every conversation knowing you're backed by patterns that truly reflect your child's needs. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

113

Schools

11

Specialist

22

SEN Units & Resource Bases

52,903

Total Pupils

14.5%receive SEN Support

7,659 pupils

4.4%have an EHCP

2,345 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 Medway's Local Offer

IASS

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

Medway SEND Information Advice and Support service (SENDIAS)

Parent Carer Forum

Medway Parents & Carers Forum

SEND Team

Occupational Therapy

Medway Community Healthcare - Children's Occupational Therapy

Speech and Language Therapy

Medway Community Healthcare - Children's Speech & Language Therapy

Other Services

Family Information Service

Citizens Advice Medway

Healthwatch Medway

NELFT Emotional Support

Home to School Transport / Travel Assistance

Housing-related support

Early Help for families

Preparing for Adulthood / Transition

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Abbey Court Foundation Special School

Special
Ages 3-19Capacity: 233ME2 3SP
Severe LearningProfound & Multiple

Blue Skies School

Special
Ages 11-25Capacity: 38ME4 6DQ
Speech & LanguageAutism

Danecourt School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 233ME8 6AA
Speech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

INSPIRE Free Special School

Special
Ages 11-18Capacity: 100ME5 0LB
Social & Emotional

Ripplevale School Rochester

Special
Ages 6-25Capacity: 210ME1 1BG
Specific LearningSpeech & LanguageAutismModerate Learning

Rivermead School

Special
Ages 4-16ME7 1UG
Speech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalPhysical

Alchemy School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 50ME7 4LT

Bradfields Academy

Special
Ages 4-19Capacity: 444ME5 0LB

City of Rochester School

Special
Ages 5-18Capacity: 85ME3 8UJ

FORWARD2 EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

Special
Ages 16-25Capacity: 50ME2 2LS

Sports Connect

Special
Ages 16-24ME20 7DS

All Faiths Children's Academy

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 210ME2 4UF
Hearing
Resource base: 14 places

Brompton Academy

SecondaryNot judged
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1400ME7 5HT
Specific LearningOtherSpeech & Language
Resource base: 100 places

Delce Academy

PrimaryGood
Ages 5-11Capacity: 360ME1 2NJ
Social & Emotional
Resource base: 20 places

Elaine Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 350ME2 2YN
Social & Emotional
Resource base: 20 places

Hoo St Werburgh Primary School and the Marlborough

PrimaryGood
Ages 2-11Capacity: 525ME3 9BS
Autism
Resource base: 80 places

Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo

All-through
Ages 4-19Capacity: 1900ME3 9HH
Autism
Resource base: 40 places

Leigh Academy Rainham

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-19Capacity: 1150ME8 8GS
Moderate Learning

Leigh Academy Strood

Secondary
Ages 11-19Capacity: 1500ME2 2SX
Autism
Resource base: 5 places

Warren Wood Primary School

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 3-11Capacity: 411ME1 2UR
Speech & Language
Resource base: 35 places

Riverside Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 390ME8 8ET
VisualAutism
Resource base: 15 places

The Robert Napier School

SecondaryNot judged
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1080ME7 2LX
Visual
Resource base: 4 places

The Rowans

SpecialOutstanding
Ages 5-16Capacity: 95ME5 0LB
Social & Emotional

The Thomas Aveling School

Secondary
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1204ME1 2UW
Hearing
Resource base: 24 places

Twydall Primary School and Nursery

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 255ME8 6JS
Physical
SEN unit: 8 placesResource base: 8 places

Will Adams Academy

Special
Ages 14-17ME7 2BX
Social & Emotional

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 Medway.

To request a statutory assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Medway, contact Medway Council through their SEND information hub or use the request form available on their website at www.medway.gov.uk. You can also get free help from Medway SENDIAS by calling 01634 566303 or emailing [email protected] to guide you through the process. They offer impartial advice on expressing your child's needs and preparing paperwork.
Medway SEND Information Advice and Support service (SENDIAS) provides free, impartial information, advice, and support for parents, carers, children, and young people with SEND on education, health, and social care matters. They help with expressing views at meetings, completing SEND paperwork, and signposting to other services, available by self-referral via phone (01634 566303), email ([email protected]), or face-to-face. The service is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Medway has 11 specialist schools, 10 schools with SEN units, and 12 schools with resource bases to support children with special educational needs. These provisions serve over 2,300 pupils with EHCPs and nearly 7,700 on SEN Support out of around 53,000 total pupils. You can find more details in Medway's SEND Local Offer directory.
The Local Offer is an online hub detailing all SEND services, support, activities, and provisions available in Medway for children and young people up to age 25. It covers education, health, social care, and more, and you can access it at www.medway.gov.uk/localoffer. Use the directory to search for providers, events, and school information.
The standard EHCP assessment process in Medway follows national timelines, where the local authority must decide within 6 weeks whether to carry out an assessment, and issue the final EHCP within 20 weeks if approved. Timelines can vary based on individual circumstances, so contact Medway SENDIAS on 01634 566303 for specific advice and support during the process. Check the Local Offer for any local updates on processing times.

Navigating SEND in Medway?

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