Non-maintained special schools (NMSS) and Independent schools
Non maintained special schools and independent schools allow children and young people with special educational needs and disability to be educated in a specialist environment. Lists of these schools can be downloaded from this page. Information for SEN governors is also available through this page.
Non maintained special schools
There are over 70 non-maintained special schools (NMSS)
approved by the DCSF under Section 342 of the Education Act 1996 as
independent special schools. To become approved, NMSS have to be non-profit
making, have demonstrated that they operate to a level at least equivalent to
state maintained special schools and their day to day running is controlled by
a governing body, the articles and instruments of which will be agreed by the
Secretary of State.
To keep NMSS status, schools must comply with the non-maintained special school regulations. Local authorities are permitted to fund pupils to attend NMSS and, almost without exception, their pupils are funded through the public purse. NMSSs cater for pupils with extreme and/or low incidence difficulties and provide very specialist schooling.
Independent schools
There are over 200 independent schools designated as catering wholly or mainly
for children with special educational needs (SEN), 95 of which are approved
under section 347(1) of the 1996 Education Act. The independent schools page
covers what constitutes an independent special school, consents, registration,
a list of the SEN Schools Team contacts and the up dated list of approved
schools.
Non-maintained special schools
A list of NMSS schools in England and Wales
Making a difference: a guide for SEN school governors (PDF)
Last updated: 28 February 2008
