Difference between a special unit and a special school?

[Crawling]

Wats the difference between a special unit and a special needs school please?

[Inaflap]

Unit is just that like a capsule within a mainstream setting. That means that for some lessons, lunch, break time assembly they are included within the main school. Special school means that there is less of a range of peer group, in theory, but most special schools have quite a range but there will be children who for whatever reason, would find it difficult to succeed in a mainstream setting.

[Crawling]

Thank you do special schools deal with children who have higher needs than a special unit or is it the same? e.g any child who cant attend mainstream school can go to either a unit or a special school depending on which has a place?

[autumnsmum]

In my area I think children that attend units are slightly more able than those in special schools .we viewed one unit and a member of staff said a pupil was waiting to transfer from there to a special school

[vjg13]

IME the resource school ie unit within a mainstream school didn't work for the majority of the children in the unit. In this LEA places, seem to be allocated on parental choice and to keep the costs down rather than severity of disability.

[TheBuskersDog]

Usually it is hoped that a child attending a unit attached to a mainstream school will be able to access some aspects of the mainstream setting with support (in my experience this isn't necessarily so).
A unit will also usually be more specific in who it is for e.g autism unit, hearing support and not necessarily for children with a learning disability. Special schools cater more for moderate or severe learning disabilities.
A place in a unit is generally much cheaper for the LA than a special school place.

[ArbitraryUsername]

DS1's school has a unit for VI in it. It's very integrated into the broader school. I think it's a very positive feature of the school.

[Crawling]

Thank you very much.