Running between Monday, March 17 and Sunday, March 23 this year, Neurodiversity Celebration Week encourages people to think about and celebrate neurodiversity as well as challenge stereotypes they might have about it.
Neurodiversity is an umberella term which refers to all the different ways in which a human’s brain can function and it includes conditions such as autism, ADHD and learning disbalities.
These conditions can also be referred to as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and Lancashire County Council’s provision of SEND support has come under fire just this week with calls for the cabinet member responsible for special needs services for children to resign following a damning Ofsted report last month that highlighted “widespread and…systemic failings” in the system.
Whilst the county's SEND provision - which is the joint responsibility of the county council and the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board - has been criticised by Ofsted, various special schools from across the county have been highly praised by the educational watchdog over recent years.
Take a look below at all the 19 special schools in Lancashire that hold an outstanding Ofsted rating as of March 2025.
17. Holly Grove School
The Burnley based school for pupils aged 2 to 11 was rated outstanding in September 2023. | Google
18. Westmorland School
The Chorley based school for pupils aged 5 to 11 was rated outstanding in May 2022. | Google Maps
19. Royal Cross Primary School
The Preston based school for deaf/HI pupils aged 3 to 11 was rated outstanding in July 2019 | Google Maps
20. Oswaldtwistle White Ash School
The Oswaldtwistle based school for pupils aged 2 to 11 was rated outstanding in March 2019. | Google Maps