This page provides information and advice about different school, college, and setting options for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). If you have any questions, you can get in touch with us, and we will try to help you.

 

Your Rights

Schools and colleges must work with young people with SEND to help them achieve their goals. The law says you have the right to go to a mainstream school if this is your choice and the school can meet your needs.

If you need more support than a mainstream school can provide, you will need an **Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)** to apply for a place at a specialist school or setting.

You can learn more about your rights on our "Your Rights" page. There is also more information on how your school or college can support you on the "Support in Your School or College" page.

 

Types of Schools and Settings

There are different types of schools and settings that you can attend:

1. Mainstream Schools

These are the schools that most children and young people go to. They support students with mild to moderate SEND by following a plan called the "graduated approach." Each mainstream school has a **Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)** who organizes support for students with SEND. You can read more about this on the "Support in Your School or College" page.

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2. Enhanced Resource Bases

These are special areas in mainstream schools that have extra resources for certain children with an EHCP. Students in these bases get more specialist support but are still included in mainstream classes.

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3. Special Schools 

You need to have an EHCP to go to a special school. These schools provide more specialized support for students whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream school or an enhanced resource base. Leicestershire County Council arranges admission to these schools. You can use the "Find a School" tool on their website to search by need.

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4. Specialist Independent Schools

These are approved schools that offer more specialized support. Some of these schools require you to have an EHCP or a specific type of need. Torbay Council also arranges admissions to these schools.

 

Post-16 Options – Further Education (FE)

You can leave school at the end of the year you turn 16, but you must stay in some kind of education or training until you turn 18. This is called **Further Education (FE)**.

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After you turn 18, you won’t stay at your current school or setting because you will be considered an adult learner. Some specialist settings offer education for young people aged 19-25, or you might want to think about going to university. This is called **Higher Education (HE)**.

You should get information and advice about your options and courses in time to help you make the right choice. It’s important to choose somewhere where you will feel comfortable and be able to achieve your goals.

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There are also many foundation learning and supported courses in Torbay for young people aged 16 to 24 with SEND. Torbay Council has information that can help you choose and apply; this might help you decide which school is best for you.

 

More About Higher Education (HE)

If you choose to go to university, your EHCP will automatically end. However, universities must still support disabled students under the **Equality Act 2010**. This might include flexible class times, study skills support, or access to special computer software.

You can also apply for a **Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)** to help cover the costs of specialist support or equipment you might need.

**UCAS**, the university admissions service, has lots of helpful information and advice, including a page specifically for SEND students.

 

Visiting a School, College, or Setting

It’s a good idea to visit any school or setting you are thinking about attending. This gives you a chance to see the environment and meet the staff.

You can also check the school or setting’s website to see what they offer and how they run things. This might help you decide which is the best fit for you.

When visiting, it can be helpful to take notes about what you think and any questions you have, so you can ask them at the end. It is also helpful to visit a few different settings to compare them and see which one feels best for you.

Things to ask or think about when visiting:

• What SEND support can they offer you? 

• How does the learning space feel to you? 

• Can you move around independently? 

• Is anything worrying you? 

• How is the teaching organized? 

• What are the class sizes? 

• Do they have students with similar needs to you? 

• Do they run any clubs or groups you might like? 

• How would you get there? 

• How do they track progress? 

• How do they communicate with home?