All Local Authorities

SEND Services in Wakefield

Yorkshire and The HumberMetropolitan Borough
Council website

In Wakefield, a bustling metropolitan district in Yorkshire, SEND support is designed to help families navigate challenges like higher suspension rates for children with special educational needs compared to national averages, while matching the overall proportion of pupils needing extra help at around one in five. Local efforts through Wakefield Inclusion SEND Support Services and education psychologists prioritise attendance and inclusion, especially for vulnerable pupils in mainstream and specialist settings. You're not alone - reach out to WESAIL (Wakefield SENDIASS) for impartial guidance, and rest assured the area is committed to improving outcomes for every child.

With services like WESAIL and Wakefield Inclusion SEND Support Services by your side, JakTrack empowers you to feel prepared and in control as you prioritise your child's attendance and inclusion. It gently captures those everyday moments, turning them into a growing body of clear evidence that leaves you supported and confident for meetings ahead. Starting early means that evidence builds naturally over time, making every step feel lighter. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & SEND Provision

157

Schools

14

Specialist

15

SEN Units & Resource Bases

58,277

Total Pupils

14.7%receive SEN Support

8,538 pupils

5.5%have an EHCP

3,213 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 Wakefield's Local Offer

IASS

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

WESAIL (Wakefield SENDIASS)

Parent Carer Forum

Wakefield Parent Carer Forum (WPCF)

SEND Team

Wakefield Council SEND Team

Occupational Therapy

Community Occupational Therapy

Supporting adults over 18 with disabilities or long-term illness affecting independence and safety in the home

Speech and Language Therapy

Wakefield NHS Trust SALT (via Local Offer)

Social Care

Social Care Direct

Main contact point for adult social care support and assessments. Provides self-referral and referral for others services.

Other Services

Connect to Support Wakefield

Adult Learning Disabilities Support

Autism Support

Mental Health Support

Equipment and Adaptations

Sensory Impairment Team

Learning Disabilities Community Teams

Day Opportunities Service

Preparing for Adulthood

Disabled Facilities Grant

New EHCPs by Primary Need

Schools

years old

Camphill Wakefield (Pennine Camphill Community Ltd)

Special
Ages 16-25Capacity: 72WF4 3JL
Moderate LearningSevere Learning

Denby Grange School

Special
Ages 11-18Capacity: 50WF4 4JG
Social & Emotional

High Well School

Special
Ages 9-16Capacity: 110WF8 2DD
Speech & LanguageAutismSocial & EmotionalModerate Learning

Highfield School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 210WF5 9BS
AutismSevere Learning

Kingsland Primary School

Special
Ages 2-11Capacity: 150WF3 4BA
AutismSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

Meadowcroft School

Special
Ages 5-19Capacity: 146WF1 4AD
Social & Emotional

Oakfield Park School

SpecialOutstanding
Ages 11-19Capacity: 162WF7 7DT
AutismSevere LearningProfound & Multiple

The Grange School

Special
Ages 5-14Capacity: 40WF10 1PN
Social & Emotional

Balance Alternative Provision

Special
Ages 11-16Capacity: 24WF11 8NE

Compass Community School Hemsworth

Special
Ages 11-17Capacity: 8WF9 4EA

Hall Cliffe Primary School

Special
Ages 5-13Capacity: 34WF2 0QB

Hall Cliffe School

Special
Ages 8-17Capacity: 104WF4 6BB

Hammer Lane Academy

Special
Ages 4-7Capacity: 30WF4 1DH

Ivy Lane School

Special
Ages 11-19Capacity: 70WF1 4AZ

Moorthorpe Primary School With Inclusion Resource

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 315WF9 2BL
Speech & LanguageSocial & Emotional
Resource base: 20 places

Carleton High School

Secondary
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1050WF8 3NW
Autism

Castleford Academy

SecondaryNot judged
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1500WF10 4JQ
Hearing
Resource base: 18 places

Crofton Academy

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-16Capacity: 1050WF4 1NF
Visual
Resource base: 15 places

Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource

Primary
Ages 3-11Capacity: 250WF2 7RU
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 13 places

Minsthorpe Community College

Secondary
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1755WF9 2UJ
Speech & LanguageModerate Learning
Resource base: 10 places

Newlands Primary School

PrimaryNot judged
Ages 3-11Capacity: 315WF6 1BB
OtherAutismSevere Learning
Resource base: 24 places

Northfield Primary School

PrimaryRequires Improvement
Ages 3-11Capacity: 315WF9 3LY
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 20 places

St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy

SecondaryGood
Ages 11-16Capacity: 750WF2 6EQ
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 20 places

St Wilfrid's Catholic High School & Sixth Form College: A Voluntary Academy

Secondary
Ages 11-18Capacity: 1800WF7 6BD
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 20 places

The Featherstone Academy

Secondary
Ages 11-16Capacity: 600WF7 5AJ
Speech & LanguageAutism
Resource base: 20 places

The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School

PrimaryGood
Ages 3-11Capacity: 316WF8 3NP
Hearing
Resource base: 16 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 Wakefield.

To request an EHCP assessment in Wakefield, you can contact the local authority or speak to your child's school, who can help guide you through the process. For free, impartial advice about whether an assessment might be right for your child, you can contact WESAIL (Wakefield SENDIASS) on 01924 965588 or email [email protected] - they can explain the process and support you through it.
WESAIL provides free, impartial information, advice and support on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) for parents, carers, and young people aged 0-25 in Wakefield. They can help with questions about education, health, social care, benefits, personal budgets and leisure, and also offer targeted short-term support, workshops and training for families.
Wakefield has 14 specialist schools, 13 schools with resource bases, and 2 schools with dedicated SEN units to support children with a range of additional needs. In total, around 3,213 pupils in Wakefield have an EHCP, and a further 8,538 receive SEN Support in mainstream schools.
The Local Offer is a website that brings together information about all the SEND services, activities and support available in your local area for children and young people with SEND and their families. You can access Wakefield's Local Offer at wakefield.mylocaloffer.org, where you'll find details of services, events, and support available in the district.
The search results provided do not include specific information about assessment timescales in Wakefield. For accurate details about how long the process takes, contact WESAIL on 01924 965588 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or email [email protected] - they can give you current information about waiting times.

Navigating SEND in Wakefield?

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