Transparency data

Independent special schools and post-16 institutions

Independent schools for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities, which have been approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act.

From:
Department for Education
Published
31 December 2015
Last updated
28 March 2025 鈥� See all updates

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 59.1 KB

Details

A list of all independent schools and special post-16 institutions for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) approved under in England and Wales.

You can filter the list by local authority or by type of setting.

Our guide for independent special schools and special post-16 institutions explains how to apply for approval under section 41.

Voluntary removal

Contact [email protected] to request removal from the approved list, stating your reason. We will remove your institution in the next update and notify local authorities. The published list includes all removed institutions.

Once removed, you cannot re-apply for one full academic year.

Other special schools

Details of all special schools in England are available on the system. This includes:

  • maintained schools
  • academies
  • independent schools
  • non-maintained schools

The SEND guide for parents and carers explains how parents can ask for one of these schools or special post-16 institutions to be named in their child鈥檚 education, health and care plan.

Updates to this page

Published 31 December 2015
Last updated 28 March 2025 show all updates

  1. Added information about requesting removal from the list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41.

  2. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales鈥� to remove On Track Education Centre Westbury.

  3. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  4. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  5. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  6. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  7. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  8. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  9. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  10. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  11. Removed the list 鈥業ndependent special schools in England including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges)鈥�. Added a link to the Get Information about Schools system 鈥� this is under 鈥極ther special schools鈥�.

  12. 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' has been updated to make sure all rows are visible. No data has changed.

  13. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  14. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  15. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  16. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  17. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales'.

  18. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' documents.

  19. Updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales.

  20. Updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales.

  21. Updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales.

  22. Updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales.

  23. Updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales.

  24. An updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 has been added.

  25. An updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 has been added.

  26. An updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 has been added.

  27. An updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 has been added.

  28. An updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 has been added.

  29. An updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 has been added.

  30. An updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 has been added.

  31. Updated list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales has been added for August 2019

  32. Updated list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales has been added for July 2019.

  33. We have updated the list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales.

  34. An updated list for special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales has been added following the review.

  35. Updated list of independent special schools in England including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges).

  36. Secretary of State approved list updated following termly review.

  37. The Secretary of State approved list has been updated for January.

  38. Updated Secretary of State approved list following termly review.

  39. Replaced 鈥淪pecial schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales鈥� spreadsheets with latest versions.

  40. Replaced 'Independent special schools in England including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges)' spreadsheets with latest versions.

  41. Updated list of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales for August 2018.

  42. The Secretary of State Approved list has been refreshed following termly review.

  43. Updated publication of the Secretary of State approved list has been added for April 2018.

  44. Updated special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales list

  45. Updated 'Independent special schools in England, including non-maintained special schools (and excluding section 41 approved special schools and colleges)'.

  46. The special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales spreadsheet has been updated.

  47. Updated approved section 41 list has been added.

  48. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' document.

  49. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' document.

  50. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' document.

  51. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' document.

  52. List of special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales updated.

  53. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' document to reflect the removal of Trinity Specialist College.

  54. Updated 'Special schools and colleges approved under section 41 in England and Wales' document to remove Queen Elizabeth Brain Foundation.

  55. First published.

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