Specialist schools and provisions (SILCs)

If a child or young person’s needs can’t be met in a mainstream school, they may be eligible for a specialist school place.

Types of specialist schools in Leeds

All children and young people have a right to mainstream education. If your child's needs can not be met in a mainstream school they may be able to apply for a specialist school. These include:

Resourced provisions

A resourced provision is a mainstream school that has specialist resources to support children with SEND. This includes children with:                                                           

  • hearing and visual impairments
  • physical and medical needs
  • complex communication needs
  • learning difficulties
Partnership provisions

Specialist inclusive learning centres (SILCs) have arrangements with local mainstream schools to place children in mainstream schools. This is known as a partnership provision.                                                           

Children in partnership places:                                                         

  • wear the uniform
  • have lessons in the mainstream classroom
  • follow the daily routines like other children at the mainstream school
  • are on the roll of the SILC
  • receive extra support from SILC staff members
Specialist inclusive learning centres (SILCs)

Specialist inclusive learning centres (SILCs) are schools that support children and young people who have complex, lifelong needs. There are five SILCs in Leeds.                                                         

Specialist free schools

A Free School is independent of the local authority and receives funding from the government. This means they have more control over how they do things. In Leeds there is:                                                         

  • The Lighthouse School - for children and young people with Autism
  • St. John’s Catholic School - for children who are deaf or hearing impaired
Special academy

Springwell Leeds Academy is a special academy in Leeds for pupils in Key Stages 1 to 4 with either:                                                         

  • social and emotional difficulties
  • mental health difficulties (SEMH)

To get a place at a specialist school or provision, a child must have an Education, health and care needs plan (EHCP).

If your family is new to the country and your child has special educational needs, please contact the school admissions team. They will help you find a mainstream school place for your child.

Search for specialist schools in Leeds

To find and compare your nearest specialist schools in Leeds, visit GOV.UK.

You can also read our plans for new SEND schools in Leeds.