What Is the Register of Schools?

CReSTeD’s main job is to keep a Register of Schools that provide teaching for pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD).

This information is free for parents and anyone choosing a child’s education.

Categories of Support

Schools are divided into five main categories plus a new category for Teaching Centres.

This helps parents match their child’s needs to the right level of provision:

  • DSP – Dyslexia Specialist Provision
  • LSC – Dyslexia Unit (Learning Support Centre)
  • MS – Maintained Sector (local authority schools only)
  • SPS – Specialist Provision Schools
  • WS – Withdrawal System
  • TC – Teaching Centres

How to Use the Categories

A severe dyslexic child may need a DSP school.

A child with only mild spelling issues may be fine in a WS school.

The Maintained Sector is for local authority schools only, not independent schools.

Professional Guidance

An Educational Psychologist or specialist teacher with an Assessment Practising Certificate can advise which level is right for your child.

What’s on the Website

Each category (DSP, LSC, MS, SPS, TC & WS) has its own page with:

  • Details of each school
  • Links to their websites
  • Contact details

There are also details of teaching centres working towards our criteria.

How to Access the Register

Printed Register

  • Produced annually
  • Sent to local authorities, educational psychologists, British Dyslexia Association branches, Dyslexia Action, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and others
  • Available on request via our Contact page

Digital Register

  • Can be downloaded in PDF format from our Documentation page

Information Pack

We have an Information Pack to go with the Register.

It contains:

  • All website information
  • Clear explanations of our categories, criteria and abbreviations

CReSTeD Criteria and Visits

Why Our List Is Different

Other lists of schools for pupils with SpLD often use unverified information.

Our Register is based on checks and visits.

The Registration Process

  1. School applies – fills out a form and sends documents, e.g. SpLD policies.
  2. Information covers: staff training, admissions, school organisation, arrangements for dyslexic pupils, exam results (general and SpLD), resources, and a list of parents to contact.
  3. A CReSTeD Consultant visits the school to verify the information and check it meets our criteria.

Our Standards Include:

  • High-quality IT resources
  • Teachers with JCQ-approved training
  • Non-specialist staff who understand pupils’ needs
  • Arrangements for special exam provision

We sometimes find schools claiming to support SpLD but not meeting basic criteria. Our process helps avoid this.

Ongoing Checks

  • Schools are visited every three years (or sooner if major changes happen).
  • If the Head Teacher changes, the school must inform us and confirm they will continue the SpLD provision. This lets us keep them in the Register without an extra visit.
  • We also do responsive visits if we have concerns about a school.

This process gives parents and advisers reassurance about the level of provision at a listed school.