Sixth form, colleges and universities for ages 16+

Mainstream and foundation study programmes: sparsholt.ac.uk (opens new window)

Mainstream study programmes: cirencester.ac.uk (opens new window)

Mainstream and foundation study programmes: bathcollege.ac.uk (opens new window)

Mainstream and foundation study programmes.

Website: newcollege.ac.uk (opens new window)

Mainstream and foundation study programmes: totton.ac.uk (opens new window)

Mainstream, foundation and personalised study programmes in Chippenham, Lackham, Trowbridge and Salisbury.  Supported internships and apprenticeships.

Website: Wiltshire College and University Homepage (opens new window)

you can also take a virtual tour of their campuses on Google maps if you visit:  Chippenham Campus Virtual Tour (opens new window)

Fairfield Park is a specialist college for students with learning disabilities; they are a registered charity, with flexible residential, day and weekend courses on offer. Using their innovative and holistic approach the Fairfield mission statement is "To enable young people to live and work without barriers."

They offer foundation courses which are realistically mapped to current work opportunities. The courses include a variety of way to develop life skills as well as customer and office skills, enterprise, horticulture, animal management and catering. 

They are situated in the village of Dilton Marsh in Wiltshire. The 26-acre farm site includes well-resourced teaching and vocational learning areas, a student common room, café and a farm shop. Close by is the Hope Nature Centre and the Weavers Pub which give students the chance to work with animals and develop retail, hospitality and culinary skills.

Visit Fairfield Farm College homepage (opens new window), and for specific information on their inclusion and access policy please see the FFC SEND Report - Fairfield Farm College (opens new window).

Exeter House is a two site 4-19 Special School for students with severe, profound and complex need, often including those with Autism located in Salisbury, South Wiltshire. They have approximately 160 pupils on roll, with the majority of our students coming from the South of Wiltshire. They believe in the extraordinary in everyone and work with their students and their families to understand their needs and realise their possibilities.

The school is committed to active, creative, reflective learning, maximised by encouragement to each individual pupil to achieve their best in every aspect of their development. They celebrate innovation and are committed to nurturing high self- esteem and respect for others. The school champions research driven approaches to continually develop their physical resources, spaces and teaching practices.

Exeter House School (opens new window)

Watch: Student school tour (opens new window)

Silverwood is 4 -19 co-educational special school. They have three campuses: Chippenham, Rowde and Trowbridge. Extensive new building work is due for completion in Autumn 2023. This will focus predominantly at the Rowde Campus to cater for up to 400 pupils with severe, profound, and complex needs, including those with autism. Their staff focus on the uniqueness of each individual child, ensuring they have a broad, balanced, and relevant curriculum. When learning with Silverwood, all children and young people are cared for, valued, challenged, and supported to achieve the very best they can.

Outdoor Provision

At Silverwood they use learning outside the classroom to support the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the needs of individuals across the school. They deliver a comprehensive outdoor learning curriculum that include Land Based Studies and Tree Awards. Pupils also have the opportunity to complete Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards. They support and encourage trips into the local community to help develop pupil's social skills and their broader personal development.

Silverwood School (opens new window)

A new free school to provide 130 places for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) will be created in Wiltshire following a Department for Education announcement.

The new school for children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) will be for children aged 4 - 19. The new school will help address the growing numbers of SEND places needed in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Council has been working closely with partners on the new free school in the south. Reach South Academy Trust announced in March the Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning (SAIL) has signed its official funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education. This is a significant step forward for the soon to open special free school which means it can now be officially named on the Education, Health, and Care Plans for students applying for places at the Salisbury special school provision.

Signing the funding agreement also means that Reach South Academy Trust can proceed with its plans to recruit a number of teaching and support staff to facilitate the opening of the school this autumn. This will ensure a smooth start to the new term when SAIL opens.

SAIL will open in temporary accommodation based at the sites of Sarum Academy (currently the home of Springfields South) and Pembroke Park Primary School, until refurbishments at the school's substantive site on Wilton Road are fully completed in early 2024.

For other related news please visit:

New 130-pupil SEND school to open in Wiltshire following DfE announcement

Salisbury special school takes significant steps towards official opening

SAIL school celebrates provisional opening date

The experts in distance learning for over 50 years, allowing you to fit study around your life. World-leading teaching strategies and educational technologies mean you'll get an Immersive and interactive learning experience with support from dedicated tutors every step of the way.

To check what courses are available and to find out more please visit:

Open University (opens new window)

For further information on inclusion and resources at OU please visit their inclusion policies and resources (opens new window) pages.

Mainstream, foundation and personalised study programmes in Chippenham, Lackham, Trowbridge and Salisbury.

For more information please visit:

Wiltshire College and University Homepage (opens new window)

In addition to education, Wiltshire offers support with finding out more about and accessing the local community and with finding paid employment. Here are some options and council teams who can help.

Community Connecting (including travel training)

The Community Connecting team helps young people to find out more about their local community and how they can get involved with clubs, meet friends and socialise, find voluntary work and use community facilities to do things they enjoy. The team also offers travel training:

For more information: Community Connecting

For more information: Travel Training

Wiltshire Employment Support Team

This team helps young people with SEND to find and keep paid employment. This can start with getting used to the idea of work whilst in education.

For more information: Wiltshire Employment Support Team (WEST)

Building Bridges

The Building Bridges programme supports young people who are facing significant challenges in being able to develop their skills, access education or move towards the world of work.

For more information: The Building Bridges Programme (opens new window)