Most children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the help and support they need at a mainstream school. They’ll get this with or without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

If your child or young adult does not have an EHCP, you must apply for a school place yourself. 

Before deciding on your school preferences, you should consider: 

  • each school’s admission arrangements 
  • previous years’ application rates 
  • how your child will get to school 
  • the school’s SEND policy 
  • what adjustments the school can make for your child (including uniforms and food) 

If you need help choosing the right school for your child, contact our Families Information Service team at fis@royalgreenwich.gov.uk 

Find a school 

All mainstream schools will publish information about their SEND provision on their website. 

We link to these pages from our directory of schools. 

Find a mainstream primary school in Royal Greenwich

Find a mainstream secondary school in Royal Greenwich

Find a school with specialist support for autism

Apply for a school place

Apply for a primary school place
Apply for a secondary school place

Read our interactive guide on secondary schools in Royal Greenwich

If your child needs more specialist support

Some children may need specialised support to meet their educational goals. This could be in a school with designated specialist provisions (DSP) or a special school. 

To be eligible, your child will need to either: 

You do not need to apply for specialist support yourself.  

The SEND Assessment and Review Service will work with you to choose the right provision or school for your child. This is based on your preferences and the child or young adult’s needs.

Find out more on understanding SEND support for your child

Specialist support in Royal Greenwich

Our specialist provisions aim to meet the needs of all children and young people with SEND. 

Read our policy to find out: 

  • what special schools and DSPs are available 
  • what is provided in each setting 
  • what the admissions criteria and process is

If you have picked a special school, our admissions panel will need to review your request against other applications.

It’s not always possible to secure a school placement you prefer. This can be due to available spaces, the distance from your home or other factors. We will always aim to secure the best possible provision to meet your child or young adult’s needs.

Some special schools have nurses who provide holistic nursing care for children and young people with complex needs. 

Read our overview on what specialist provision is available: