Here are 20 notable special needs college for disabled children in the UK that offer various forms of assistance, educational and recreational support:
1. Sense College
- Focus: Sense College is an independent specialist college for people aged 16-25 with complex disabilities.
- Established year: 2006
- URL: https://www.sense.org.uk/our-services/education-and-work/sense-college/
- Course: https://www.sense.org.uk/our-services/education-and-work/sense-college/sense-college-curriculum/
- Apply: https://college.sense.org.uk/admissions
- Address: 50 Forder Way, Cygnet Park, Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8JB, UK
2. Henshaws Specialist College
- Focus: Henshaws Specialist College is a place for students aged 16 – 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Established year: 1971
- URL: https://www.henshaws.org.uk/specialist-college/
- Course: https://www.henshaws.org.uk/specialist-college/education/
- Apply: https://www.henshaws.org.uk/specialist-college/visit-and-apply/
- Address: Bogs Ln, Harrogate HG1 4ED, UK
3. National Star College
- Focus: They offer full and part-time, residential and day courses for around 200 disabled students aged between 16 – 25 years old.
- Established year: 1967
- URL: https://www.nationalstar.org/
- Course: https://www.nationalstar.org/learn-with-us/
- Apply: https://www.nationalstar.org/learn-with-us/application-process/
- Address: Ullenwood, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9QU, UK
4. Bridge College
- Focus: They offer specialist education for students aged 16 to 25 with learning difficulties, disabilities, complex health needs and autism.
- Established year: 1993
- URL: https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/bridge-college
- Course: https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/bridge-college/curriculum
- Apply: https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/bridge-college/how-to-apply
- Address: Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1JE, UK
5. Dorton College
- Focus: Dorton College is our independent specialist college in the London Borough of Bromley. They offer a day provision for vision impaired 16-25-year-olds and many of our students have additional needs.
- Established year: 1838
- URL: https://www.rsbc.org.uk/dorton-college/
- Course: https://www.rsbc.org.uk/dorton-college/curriculum/
- Apply: https://www.rsbc.org.uk/how-can-we-help/contact-us/
- Address: 10 Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6EN, UK
6. Derwen college
- Focus: A specialist college for young adults (aged 16–25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Established year: 1927
- URL: https://www.derwen.ac.uk/
- Course: https://www.derwen.ac.uk/parents-professionals/learning-pathways-programmes/
- Apply: https://www.derwen.ac.uk/parents-professionals/admissions/
- Address: Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 3JA, UK
7. St Elizabeth's College
- Focus: St Elizabeth's College is an independent, specialized learning environment for young people aged 16-25 with a range of learning difficulties and disabilities, including those with epilepsy and other complex needs.
- Established year: 1904
- URL: https://stelizabeths-website.salmonground-3613b598.uksouth.azurecontainerapps.io/further-education-college/welcome-to-st-elizabeths-college/
- Course: https://www.stelizabeths.org.uk/media/3227/curriculum-and-accreditation-policy-november-2022.pdf
- Apply: https://stelizabeths-website.salmonground-3613b598.uksouth.azurecontainerapps.io/further-education-college/college-admissions/
- Address: South End, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, SG10 6EW, UK
8. Linkage College
- Focus: One of the longest-established specialist independent further education colleges in the country for young people with learning disabilities.
- Established year: 1976
- URL: https://www.linkage.org.uk/college/
- Course: https://www.linkage.org.uk/college/curriculum-and-courses/
- Apply: https://www.linkage.org.uk/home/contact-us/
- Address: Linkage, Toynton Hall, Toynton All Saints, Spilsby, PE23 5AE, UK
9. Hereward College
- Focus: Hereward College provides study programs for young people (age 16-25) with complex disabilities and learning difficulties. They specialize in supporting day and residential learners who have a range of needs including autism, physical difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, and complex disabilities.
- Established year: 1972
- URL: https://www.hereward.ac.uk/
- Course: https://www.hereward.ac.uk/learn-with-us/study-programme/
- Apply: https://www.hereward.ac.uk/learn-with-us/admissions/
- Address: Bramston Crescent, Tile Hill, Coventry CV4 9SW, UK
10. Arden College
- Focus: College for young people aged 16 to 25 years with autism and complex barriers to learning. The learning and support that they provide is tailored to the individual needs, strengths, interests and aspirations of each young person.
- Established year: 1990
- URL: https://www.aspriscs.co.uk/ardencollege/
- Course: https://www.aspriscs.co.uk/media/22956/arden-college-curriculum-booklet.pdf
- Apply: https://www.aspriscs.co.uk/contact/
- Address: 41 Church Road, Banks, Lancashire, PR9 8ET, UK
11. St Piers College
- Focus: St Piers College is a warm, friendly residential and day college for students aged 19–25. They have a high proportion of students with epilepsy, autism, severe learning difficulties and complex needs.
- Established year: 1897
- URL: https://www.stpiers.org.uk/st-piers-college
- Course: https://www.stpiers.org.uk/st-piers-college/st-piers-college-curriculum
- Apply: https://www.stpiers.org.uk/applications-and-admissions
- Address: St. Piers Lane, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PW, UK
12. Birtenshaw College
- Focus: Birtenshaw College provides specialist further education for young people aged between 16 and 25 with a range of special needs, including cognitive, physical and sensory impairment; many learners also have a diagnosis of autism or an associated condition.
- Established year: 2014
- URL: https://birtenshaw.org.uk/birtenshaw-college-bolton/
- Course: https://birtenshaw.org.uk/birtenshaw-college-bolton/curriculum/
- Apply: https://birtenshaw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Birtenshaw-Education-Services-Admissions-Policy-2019.pdf
- Address:Birtenshaw, Darwen Road, Bolton, BL7 9AB, UK
13. Homefield College
- Focus: An independent specialist college and a charity that offers education, care and support to people with learning and communication difficulties.
- Established year: 1987
- URL: https://www.homefieldcollege.ac.uk/
- Course: https://www.homefieldcollege.ac.uk/what-we-offer/study-programmes/
- Apply: https://www.homefieldcollege.ac.uk/get-in-touch/apply-for-a-place/
- Address: 217 Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, LE12 7AR, UK
14. Ambitious College
- Focus: Ambitious College is an independent specialist day college dedicated to supporting autistic young people aged 16–25.
- Established year: 2014
- URL: https://ambitiouscollege.org.uk/our-college
- Course: https://ambitiouscollege.org.uk/learn-with-us/curriculum
- Apply: https://ambitiouscollege.org.uk/key-information/how-to-apply
- Address: Clyde Road, South Tottenham, London, N15 4FY, UK
15. Beaumont College
- Focus: Beaumont College supports students with a broad range of physical and learning impairments for over forty years on a residential or day basis.
- Established year: 1861
- URL: https://www.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/
- Course:Sensory Communication Pathway, Communication & Interaction Pathway, Skills for Independent Living Pathway, Skills for Life & Work Pathway, Access to Learning Pathway.
- Apply: https://www.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/contact-us/
- Address: Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6AP
16. Fairfield Farm College
- Focus: They are a Specialist College for young people between 16 and 19 years old with additional needs; they are a registered Charity, with flexible residential, day and weekend courses on offer.
- Established year: 1975
- URL: https://ffc.ac.uk/
- Course: Life Skills, Vocational learning, Work-based learning.
- Apply: https://ffc.ac.uk/apply/
- Address: 43 High Street, Dilton Marsh, Wiltshire, BA13 4DL
17. ESPA (Education Service for People with Autism) College
- Focus: The College provides day and residential education for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 years with autism.
- Established year: 1995
- URL: https://espa.org.uk/college/
- Course: https://espa.org.uk/college/curriculum/
- Apply: https://espa.org.uk/college/becoming-a-student/
- Address: 6-7 the Cloisters, Ashbrooke Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7BD England, UK
18. Shaftesbury Nash College
- Focus: Shaftesbury Nash College is an independent specialist further education college for disabled people aged 16-25.
- Established year: managed by Shaftesbury society founded in 1844
- URL: https://nashcollege.org.uk/
- Course: https://nashcollege.org.uk/about-us/our-approach/
- Apply: https://nashcollege.org.uk/key-information/admissions/
- Address: Croydon Road, Bromley, Kent, BR2 7AG, UK
19. Condover College
- Focus: They provide a service for adults 18+ who have moderate to severe learning disabilities, profound and multiple learning difficulties and additional complex needs.
- Established year: 2004
- URL: https://www.condovercollege.co.uk/
- Course: https://www.condovercollege.co.uk/what-we-do/education/curriculum/
- Apply: https://www.condovercollege.co.uk/what-we-do/education/applying-to-ccl/
- Address: Longbow House, Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3GZ, UK
20. Beechwood College
- Focus: Beechwood College is a specialist day and residential service for young adults between the ages of 16 and 25 with a formal diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Condition or Asperger’s Syndrome.
- Established year: 2004
- URL: https://www.iriscaregroup.co.uk/sen-education/overview/
- Course: Essential Skills (literacy, numeracy, problem solving and ICT), Creative Arts (fine art, textiles, animation, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, drama and music), Skills for Life (independence, travel training, home management, financial skills and food preparation), Vocational Skills (team enterprise, horticulture, carpentry and work experience), Sport and Leisure (swimming, cycling, trampolining, horse riding, gym, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme)
- Apply: https://www.iriscaregroup.co.uk/sen-education/admissions/
- Address: Hayes Rd, Sully, Penarth CF64 5SE, United Kingdom
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