All Local Authorities

SEND Services in Southampton

South EastUnitary Authority
Council website

Southampton, a vibrant unitary authority in the South East, offers dedicated SEND support in Southampton through its local services, including impartial advice from Southampton SENDIASS to help families navigate the system with confidence. As a bustling urban area, it benefits from strong school outreach by specialist teachers and the biggest-ever training programme for educators launched in early 2026, aimed at boosting inclusion and early intervention for children with special educational needs. These efforts reflect a commitment to meeting diverse needs effectively, providing reassurance that help is close at hand for parents embarking on this journey.

Complementing Southampton's strong school outreach and early intervention efforts, JakTrack empowers families to feel prepared and in control by quietly building a rich evidence base from everyday moments like sleep, meals, and behaviour. As patterns emerge through gentle AI insights, you'll walk into EHCP meetings or appointments supported and confident, knowing your child's story is clearly documented without the overwhelm. Starting early lets this invaluable record grow naturally over time, turning uncertainty into quiet assurance right from the start. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

84

Schools

9

Specialist

12

SEN Units & Resource Bases

35,872

Total Pupils

15.9%receive SEN Support

5,718 pupils

6.2%have an EHCP

2,233 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 Southampton's Local Offer

IASS

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

Southampton SENDIASS

Parent Carer Forum

Southampton Parent Carer Forum

The Southampton Parent Carer Forum support families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) by offering practical help, reducing isolation and working with professionals to improve services.

Facebook page

SEND Team

Southampton Neurodiversity Team

Portage

SEND & Portage Early Years Specialist Service

Educational Psychology

Southampton Educational Psychology Service

Occupational Therapy

Speech and Language Therapy

Children's Therapy Service

Social Care

Southampton Community Learning Disability Team

Other Services

Southampton Mental Health In Schools Team

CAMHS Southampton

Southampton Autism Support Service

Behaviour Resource Service

Specialist Teaching Advisory Service

Specialist Teaching Advisory Service

Transition Therapy Team

Transition Therapy Team

Personal Budgets

Home to School Transport

Preparing for Adulthood

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Great Oaks School

SpecialOutstanding
Ages 11-19Capacity: 280SO16 7LT
Specific LearningOtherSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryPhysicalSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Rosewood Free School

Special
Ages 2-19Capacity: 77SO16 5NA
OtherMulti-SensoryPhysicalProfound & Multiple

Springwell School

Special
Ages 4-11Capacity: 276SO19 6DH
Specific LearningSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

The Cedar School

Special
Ages 3-16Capacity: 90SO16 0XN
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

The Polygon School

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 77SO15 2FH
Specific LearningOtherSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryModerate Learning

The Serendipity School

Special
Ages 9-19Capacity: 25SO19 6DS
Social & Emotional

Vermont School

SpecialNot judged
Ages 5-11Capacity: 55SO16 7LT
AutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning

New Avenue School

Special
Ages 9-16Capacity: 24SO17 1XS

Yarrow Heights School

Special
Ages 7-19Capacity: 145SO18 1FS

Mason Moor Primary School, Nursery & Sen Unit

PrimaryRequires Improvement
Ages 3-11Capacity: 240SO16 4AS
AutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning

Redbridge Community School

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1112SO16 9RJ
HearingAutismSocial & Emotional
Resource base: 7 places

Woodlands Community College

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-16Capacity: 900SO18 5FW
Specific LearningVisualOtherHearingSpeech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalMulti-SensoryPhysicalModerate LearningSevere Learning

Bitterne Park School

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-18Capacity: 2000SO18 1BU
Autism

Cantell School

SecondaryOutstanding
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1250SO16 3GJ
Other

Holy Family Catholic Primary School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools

Primary
Ages 4-11Capacity: 420SO16 9LP

Not Applicable

Newlands Primary School

Primary
Ages 4-11Capacity: 420SO16 9QX
Hearing
Resource base: 14 places

St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

Primary
Ages 4-11Capacity: 420SO19 2JE
Moderate Learning

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 Southampton.

You can request an EHC needs assessment at any time by contacting Southampton Local Authority with evidence that your child may have special educational needs and may need special educational provision. You'll need to submit a request form with supporting evidence such as school reports, medical assessments, or statements from professionals working with your child. Southampton SENDIASS can help you prepare your request - contact them on 023 8072 1209 or [email protected] for guidance.
Southampton SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs & Disability Information Advice & Support Service) provides free, impartial information and support to families navigating SEND services in Southampton. They can help you understand the EHC assessment process, prepare your request, gather evidence, and support you through appeals if needed. You can reach them on 023 8072 1209 or email [email protected].
Southampton has 9 specialist schools dedicated to supporting children with SEND, plus 4 schools with specialist SEN units and 8 schools with resource bases offering additional support. In total, around 2,233 pupils in Southampton schools have an EHCP, and a further 5,718 receive SEN Support. You can explore all available provision through Southampton's Local Offer.
The Local Offer is Southampton's online guide to all SEND support and services available to children and young people in the area, including schools, health services, and community support. You can access Southampton's Local Offer at https://www.southampton.gov.uk/schools-learning/send-local-offer/, where you'll find information about specialist provision, support services, and how to access help.
The entire EHC assessment process must be completed within 20 weeks from the date Southampton Local Authority receives your request. The Local Authority has 6 weeks to decide whether to carry out an assessment, and if they agree, they have approximately 16 weeks to gather all assessments and information before deciding whether to issue a plan.

Navigating SEND in Southampton?

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