Guide to Choosing a Disabled School or College

Choosing the right school, college or university for a child is always a big decision. But when your child has a physical disability, it is even more important to find a school or college where you are confident that your child will receive the appropriate support and care.

Choosing a disabled school
When considering the best type of education for a physically disabled child, parents are rightly concerned to find an educational establishment where their child will receive a good education, care and support, to help them achieve their full potential in life.

Some parents of physically disabled children choose a non-maintained special school, which can provide many benefits.

Special schools provide education to children who have more challenging conditions such as cerebral palsy, who are in wheelchairs, or who have other physical conditions including those with associated sensory or cognitive difficulties.

A specialist school or physically disabled children will have teachers who are normally qualified in special education, as well as their own specialist teaching subject.

These teachers will usually work alongside specialist staff and professionals from a wide range of other disciplines including psychology, therapy, care and medicine.

A special school will normally take a more holistic approach to educating and caring for a physically disabled pupil, giving special consideration to medical support and independence.

Special schools will have made a greater investment in modern equipment to aid students with their mobility, communication and education.

Physically disabled pupils at a special school will usually be provided with a bespoke care package to help them learn and develop in the way that suits them best.

Often residential education is provided, in a caring and supportive environment where special attention is given to pastoral care. The experience of boarding can often help physically disabled children grow in confidence and independence.

Non-maintained special school charge fees for education and care, which may vary according to the level of support and specialist equipment a child requires. These fees are generally paid by your Local Authority, sometimes with support from the Children’s Services’ social care department. If your child has significant medical needs, the LA may also involve the Primary Care Trust (PCT). In addition some pupils are privately funded.

Choosing a Disabled College
Physically disabled young people go to college not just to learn; they also want to acquire new skills and develop personally. A specialist college for physically disabled can help students to achieve all these aims and more.

A typical disabled college will offer a unique blend of education, with a broad range of vocational and academic programmes available to study at different levels, and Pastoral Care aimed at creating a home from home, and provided by a high ratio of staff to students.

Specialist disabled colleges and universities also provide other specialist services such as Therapy, including physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and rehabilitation engineering specialists.

Disabled colleges will also provide medical support, with a professional healthcare team available around the clock, and Independence Training to help students learn essential living skills and increase the number of choices available to them in later life.

The cost of a place at a specialist disabled College varies according to the level of support and specialist equipment the student needs, the amount of support a student requires, and the support needed to achieve their academic goals and become as independent as possible.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) pays for places for most disabled students from England. There are separate arrangements for young people from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Smaller numbers of UK students are independently funded.

Article provided by Treloar’s School and College for physically disabled children and students. Treloar Trust provides education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to young people with physical disabilities from all over the UK and overseas. Our aim is to prepare these young people for adult life, giving them the confidence and skills to achieve their full potential.