SEND Services in Rochdale
Rochdale, a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, offers SEND support in Rochdale through a range of local schools and services tailored to children and young people's needs, with Rochdale SENDiass providing free, confidential advice to help families navigate the system. While the area has fewer pupils in maintained special provision than the North West average, recent Ombudsman reports have highlighted challenges like a significant backlog in reviewing Education, Health and Care plans, prompting the council to take steps for improvement. Parents can feel reassured knowing that support is available locally, including through Rochdale Parent Carers Voice, and many families find the right provision with persistence and the right guidance.
With Rochdale's EHCP review backlog in mind, JakTrack empowers families to feel prepared and in control by quietly building a rich evidence base from everyday moments like sleep, meals, and behaviour - starting early means those patterns emerge just when you need them for appointments or appeals. Parents tell us it brings a sense of calm support, turning persistence into progress without the overwhelm. You'll walk into every meeting knowing you're backed by clear, AI-spotted insights tailored to your child's needs. see how JakTrack can help
Schools & SEND Provision
104
Schools
11
Specialist
7
SEN Units & Resource Bases
38,719
Total Pupils
5,573 pupils
2,222 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 Rochdale's Local OfferIASS
Free, impartial advice about SEND - EHCPs, school issues, exclusions, navigating the system.
Rochdale SENDiass
Parent Carer Forum
Rochdale Parent Carers Voice
Parent carer forum representing families of children and young people with SEND in Rochdale
Facebook pageEHCP
SEN Team
Education, Health and Care Assessment and Review Team
Median assessment: 20 weeks (legal limit: 20)
SEND Team
Rochdale SEND Team
Main council SEND department providing statutory assessment and support services
Portage
Early Support Keyworker Team
Educational Psychology
Rochdale Child and Educational Psychology Service
Occupational Therapy
Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Children's Occupational Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy
Children's Speech and Language Therapy
Other Services
Child Development Centre
Early Help / Family Support
Sensory Support Service
Autism Pathway / Autism Assessment
Personal Budgets / Direct Payments
Home to School Transport / Travel Assistance
Mediation / Disagreement Resolution
Preparing for Adulthood / Transition
Sleep Service
Challenging Behaviour / Positive Behaviour Support
Neurodiversity Hub
Autism Assessment and Support
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health)
Home to School Transport
Wheelchair Service
Challenging Behaviour Support
Personal Budgets and Direct Payments
New EHCPs by Primary Need
Schools
Cedar Lodge School
SpecialGreat Howarth School
SpecialMeadows School
SpecialNewlands School
SpecialOak Haven School
SpecialRequires ImprovementRedwood
SpecialSpringside
SpecialHealey Learning Centre
SpecialHeywood Academy
SpecialWhitehall Academy
SpecialWillow View School
SpecialMarland Hill Community Primary School
PrimaryMatthew Moss High School
SecondaryUnderstanding 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 Rochdale.
Navigating SEND in Rochdale?
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
Social Care
Children's Social Care
Social care services for disabled children including assessment, support planning and transition to adult services