What special schools are in Vale of Glamorgan?

Vale of Glamorgan has 4 special schools and pupil referral units catering to children with additional learning needs (ALN). Schools are listed with their latest inspection, and with a specialism where the school's record names one.

How do I get my child into a special school?

In Wales, a special-school place is normally secured through an Individual Development Plan (IDP) maintained by the local authority, which can name the school; naming a school is at the council's discretion. See our ALN guide for more information.

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Page updated 15 Nov 2026

Generated from the official inspection and admissions data we hold · Reviewed · How we write

Special Schools & ALN Provision in Vale of Glamorgan

Special schools in Vale of Glamorgan for children with additional learning needs (ALN). These include schools for children with autism spectrum disorder, social/emotional/mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, physical disabilities, and other primary needs. Use our ALN school finder for a guided search by your child's specific needs.

Vale of Glamorgan has 4 special schools providing specialist support for children with additional needs.

How this list is ordered

Listed A to Z, not ranked. Special schools serve different needs, so they are not alternatives to one another, and their latest inspections come from frameworks that cannot be put on one scale, while new schools have not had a graded inspection yet. Each school shows its own latest inspection: read its report, and check the needs it provides for.

Sources: Estyn inspection reports · Official school census data (DfE / Scottish Government / Welsh Government / Department of Education NI) · last refreshed regularly from official sources.

Not used in this ranking: Exam results, parent satisfaction, admissions difficulty, fees, scholarship generosity, leaver destinations.

“Best” is a shorthand. The right school for your child depends on their needs, the commute, admissions priority, and many other factors this list cannot capture.

4special schools

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Beechwood College

IndependentSpecial School

Not yet inspected

Ages: 16–25

Needs: Autism

Headlands School

IndependentSpecial SchoolSocial, Emotional & Mental Health

Inspected by Estyn

Ages: 7–19

Needs: SEMH

Inspired Learners

IndependentSpecial SchoolSocial, Emotional & Mental Health

Inspected by Estyn

Ages: 7–16

Needs: SEMH

Ysgol Y Deri(School)

StateSpecial School

Inspected by Estyn

Ages: Not published

Needs: Autism, SLD, PMLD, SEMH

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Page updated 15 Nov 2026

Generated from the official inspection and admissions data we hold · Reviewed · How we write

Special Schools & ALN Provision in Vale of Glamorgan

Vale of Glamorgan has 4 special schools providing specialist support for children with additional needs.

How this list is ordered

Sources: Estyn inspection reports · Official school census data (DfE / Scottish Government / Welsh Government / Department of Education NI) · last refreshed regularly from official sources.

Not used in this ranking: Exam results, parent satisfaction, admissions difficulty, fees, scholarship generosity, leaver destinations.

“Best” is a shorthand. The right school for your child depends on their needs, the commute, admissions priority, and many other factors this list cannot capture.

4special schools

Explore these schools on the map

Sort by distance from your home

Beechwood College

IndependentSpecial School

Not yet inspected