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SEND Services in Oldham

North WestMetropolitan Borough
Council website

Oldham, a bustling metropolitan borough in the North West, is committed to strengthening SEND support in Oldham through targeted expansions like new specialist places at Halcyon Way primary school and plans to boost secondary resource provisions. Local inclusion outcomes stand out as some of the strongest among statistical neighbours, often surpassing national averages in areas like attendance, suspensions, and exclusions, thanks to strong partnerships across schools. While EHCP numbers have grown steadily - mirroring national trends - Oldham invests above comparators in EHCPs within maintained settings and offers impartial guidance via the Oldham SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS). Parents can feel reassured knowing these efforts aim to keep vital support close to home.

With Oldham's impartial SENDIASS guidance and investments in local EHCP support paving the way, JakTrack steps in as your everyday companion, helping you feel prepared and in control for those key appointments and reviews. Families tell us it brings a sense of calm knowing your daily notes on sleep, meals, and behaviour quietly build into powerful, organised evidence over time - starting early means you're always one step ahead. You'll walk into meetings supported, not scrambling, with insights that make your voice even stronger alongside Oldham's strong inclusion partnerships. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

126

Schools

15

Specialist

14

SEN Units & Resource Bases

47,772

Total Pupils

12.3%receive SEN Support

5,874 pupils

7%have an EHCP

3,323 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 Oldham's Local Offer

IASS

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

Oldham SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Parent Carer Forum

Oldham Parent Carer Forum

SEND Team

Oldham Council Access Service (SEND)

Occupational Therapy

Northern Care Alliance NHS (Oldham OT)

Speech and Language Therapy

Northern Care Alliance NHS (Oldham SALT)

Other Services

Oldham SEND Local Offer

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Bright Futures School

Special
Ages 5-16Capacity: 18OL3 7EU
Autism

Brookland School

Special
Ages 7-16Capacity: 50OL16 3NP
Social & Emotional

Hollinwood Academy

Special
Ages 4-19Capacity: 280OL8 3PT
Speech & LanguageAutism

New Bridge School

Special
Ages 5-19Capacity: 800OL8 3PH
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Spring Brook Academy

SpecialGood
Ages 4-16Capacity: 78M35 0DQ
Social & Emotional

Chances Mentoring

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 60OL9 9JT

EdStart Schools Oldham and Rochdale

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 35OL9 6TR

Future Finders Employability College

Special
Ages 18-25Capacity: 12OL1 1JZ

Halcyon Way School

SpecialNot judged
Ages 2-11Capacity: 140

Kingfisher Special School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 202OL9 9QR

Path 4

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 60OL9 6QH

SEE (Oldham)

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 25OL1 4AW

SMS Changing Lives School

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 80OL9 9XA

Supreme Start Ltd

Special
Ages 5-11Capacity: 20OL2 5PJ

Teenage Kicks

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 80M35 9RD

Greenhill Academy

PrimaryGood
Ages 2-11Capacity: 500OL4 1RR
Speech & LanguageAutism

Northmoor Academy

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 2-11Capacity: 630OL9 6AQ
Speech & LanguageAutism

Richmond Academy

Primary
Ages 2-11Capacity: 510OL9 6HY
Speech & LanguageAutism

Medlock Valley Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 341OL8 2PN
Autism
Resource base: 12 places

North Chadderton School

SecondaryNot judged
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1656OL9 0BN
Autism
Resource base: 12 places

St Thomas Moorside CofE (VA) Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 210OL1 4RL
Speech & LanguageAutism

St. Paul's CofE Primary School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 210OL2 5LU
Speech & LanguageAutism

The Hathershaw College

Secondary
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1050OL8 3EP
Hearing
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 Oldham.

To request a statutory assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Oldham, contact Oldham Council through their website at www.oldham.gov.uk where a request form is available. You can also get free, impartial advice from the Oldham SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) by calling 0161 503 1540 or emailing [email protected] to guide you through the process.
Oldham SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) provides free, confidential and impartial help to parents, carers, children and young people with SEND on education, health and social care matters. They offer one-to-one advice, information on local services, support for EHCP processes, mediation, and tribunal claims. Contact them at 0161 503 1540 or [email protected].
Oldham has 15 specialist schools for children with SEND, plus 7 schools with SEN units and 7 with resource bases, supporting over 3,300 pupils with EHCPs out of 47,772 total pupils. These provisions help meet diverse needs from early years to age 19. More details are on Oldham's Local Offer website.
The Local Offer is a guide to all SEND services, support and provisions available in Oldham for children and young people up to age 25. It includes information on schools, health services, therapies and family support. Find it at www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200368/childrenandyoungpeoplewithspecialeducationalneedsand_disabilities.
The statutory EHCP process in Oldham follows national timelines: the local authority must decide within 6 weeks whether to assess, and if approved, issue the final EHCP within 20 weeks from the assessment start. Delays can happen, so contact Oldham SENDIASS on 0161 503 1540 for support and updates during your application.

Navigating SEND in Oldham?

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