Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/residential-special-schools-national-minimum-standards

Change description : 2026-08-06 13:02:00: Updated ‘National minimum standards for residential special schools’ to include standard 23 that was unintentionally omitted in the last update. There is no change to policy. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2026-05-18 11:10:09.419505214 +00:00..2026-08-06 12:02:48.764641637 +00:00

Guidance

Residential special schools: national minimum standards

Guidance for special schools providing residential accommodation for any child.

From:
Department for Education
PublishedPublished:
1 November 2012
Last updatedupdated:
186 MayAugust 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

National minimum standards for residential special schools

PDF, 661575 KB, 4346 pages

Details

Guidance for:

  • school leaders
  • school staff

It applies to:

  • state-funded special schools
  • independent residential special schools

It contains a statement of national minimum standards.

Special schools support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The boarding schools national minimum standards apply to all other schools that provide accommodation for children.

Updates to this page

Published 1 November 2012
Last updated 186 MayAugust 2026 href="#full-history">+— show Show all updates

  1. Updated 'National minimum standards for residential special schools' to include standard 23 that was unintentionally omitted in the last update. There is no change to policy.

  2. Updated 'National minimum standards for residential special schools', details in document history.

  3. Removed 'National minimum standards for residential special schools: in force until 5 September 2022' and replaced with current 'National minimum standards for residential special schools'.

  4. Updated 'National minimum standards for residential special schools: in force from 5 September 2022' document – para 12.2 and footnote 21 – to ensure employers are following guidance from relevant professional organisations.

  5. Added 'National Minimum Standards for residential special schools: in force from 5 September 2022'.

  6. Updated document as a result of Ofsted inspections against the standards, and revisions to the independent school standards.

  7. First published.

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Update history

2026-08-06 13:02
Updated ‘National minimum standards for residential special schools’ to include standard 23 that was unintentionally omitted in the last update. There is no change to policy.

2026-05-18 12:09
Updated ‘National minimum standards for residential special schools’, details in document history.

2022-09-05 09:26
Removed ‘National minimum standards for residential special schools: in force until 5 September 2022’ and replaced with current ‘National minimum standards for residential special schools’.

2022-08-23 13:39
Updated ‘National minimum standards for residential special schools: in force from 5 September 2022’ document – para 12.2 and footnote 21 – to ensure employers are following guidance from relevant professional organisations.

2022-05-20 13:44
Added ‘National Minimum Standards for residential special schools: in force from 5 September 2022’.