Designated Specialist Provision

A Designated Specialist Provision (DSP) is a specialist unit inside a mainstream school or academy. 

It gives extra support to children who have special educational needs, but who can still spend some time in mainstream classes

Watch this short video that explains what a DSP is:

DSPs are for children and young people who have specific needs that means they would benefit from more specialist support for parts of the day, but they can learn in mainstream some of the time.

In a DSP your child might:

• Work in small groups or one to one
• Get help from specialist teachers or staff
• Learn ways to manage their feelings, behaviour or communication
• Still join in some lessons or fun activities with their mainstream class

DSPs are not full time provision.  Children who attend a DSP split their time between mainstream lessons and activities and the DSP setting.

A place in a DSP is only given if the setting is named in your child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

If you would like more information about accessing a DSP, speak to your child's SENDCO.

Each DSP offers a specialism.  The following list will help you find a DSP that is relevant to your child's needs.

This specialism focuses on developing communication and social interaction skills.  

• Braunstone Frith Primary Academy
• Catherine Infant School
• Fullhurst Community College (secondary)
• Imperial Avenue Infant School
• Inglehurst Junior School
• Kestrel Mead Primary Academy
• King Richard III Infant School
• Lancaster Academy (secondary)
• Orchard Mead Academy (secondary)
• Rushey Mead Primary School
• Rushey Mead Academy (secondary)
• Sandfield Close Primary School
• Shenton Primary School
• Spinney Hill Primary School
• Stokes Wood Primary School
• The City of Leicester College (secondary)

This specialism provides support for students with hearing loss

• Thurnby Mead Primary Academy

This specialism supports social, emotional, and mental health needs

• Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy

This specialism focuses on developing speech, language, and communication skills

• Babington Academy (secondary)
• Barley Croft Primary School
• Thurnby Mead Primary Academy

Willow Bank Hospital School provides support for young people in year groups 9 to 11 whose anxiety prevents them from accessing mainstream environments.