Special Needs Schools and SEN Support in Cayman
Families looking for a special needs school in Cayman, or for therapy and assessment, have eight specialist providers listed here, all based in George Town. They include the government's Lighthouse School and Early Intervention Programme, as well as private clinics offering speech, occupational and behaviour therapy.
- Listed
- 8
- With an OES rating
- 1
- Rated Good or Excellent
- 1
- Districts covered
- 1
Sorted by latest inspection rating. Data checked Oct 2026 from the Educational Institutions Register and OES reports.
- 1Public
- 2Cayman ABA
George Town
Not yet inspectedPrivate - 3Cayman Theraplay Ltd.
George Town · Ages 1 week+
Not yet inspectedPrivate - 4Chatterbox - Therapy & Education Services
George Town · Ages 1 week+
Not yet inspectedPrivate - 5Early Intervention Programme (EIP)
George Town · Ages 1 week to 5
Not yet inspectedPublic - 6Inclusion Cayman
Seven Mile Beach, George Town
Not yet inspectedPrivate - 7KidsAbility Paediatric Therapy Clinic
George Town
Not yet inspectedPrivate - 8The Speech Studio
George Town · Ages 1 week+
Not yet inspectedPrivate
| # | Name | Ages | Curriculum | Inspection | Fees (published) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighthouse SchoolGeorge Town | — | Adapted National Curriculum | — | |
| 2 | Cayman ABAGeorge Town | — | — | Not yet inspected | — |
| 3 | Cayman Theraplay Ltd.George Town | 1 week+ | — | Not yet inspected | — |
| 4 | Chatterbox - Therapy & Education ServicesGeorge Town | 1 week+ | — | Not yet inspected | — |
| 5 | Early Intervention Programme (EIP)George Town | 1 week to 5 | — | Not yet inspected | — |
| 6 | Inclusion CaymanGeorge Town | — | — | Not yet inspected | — |
| 7 | KidsAbility Paediatric Therapy ClinicGeorge Town | — | — | Not yet inspected | — |
| 8 | The Speech StudioGeorge Town | 1 week+ | — | Not yet inspected | — |
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Government provision
Lighthouse School is the government's special school for children with special educational needs and disabilities. It teaches an adapted national curriculum with a focus on life skills and independence. The Office of Education Standards (OES) rated it Good in November 2025, and its OES profile shows 119 students on roll.
For younger children, the Early Intervention Programme (EIP) is run by the Department of Education Services for children from birth to school-entry age who have developmental difficulties. Some mainstream government schools also have specialist provision: the department's site mentions two autism (ASD) classes at Sir John A. Cumber Primary in West Bay.
Private therapy and assessment
Five private clinics offer therapy for children. Chatterbox, Cayman Theraplay and KidsAbility Paediatric Therapy Clinic all provide speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. The Speech Studio focuses on speech and language, from infants to school-age children, including AAC and fluency support. Cayman ABA provides Applied Behaviour Analysis for children and teenagers with autism and developmental delays.
If you need a formal assessment, check what each clinic offers. KidsAbility lists psycho-educational and neuropsychological assessments, and Chatterbox lists autism diagnostic services. None of the clinics publishes fees in our data.
Support in and beyond school
Inclusion Cayman is a non-profit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through inclusive education advocacy, employment and community programmes, and its services are free. Among private schools, Cayman Learning Centre & School serves Years 1 to 9 for students with specific learning difficulties, and Hope Academy offers clinical services alongside its classes.
For reading difficulties, Baobab Education, listed on our tutoring page, offers dyslexia and dyscalculia support. For adults with additional needs, the government's Sunrise Adult Training Centre runs vocational and employment programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What special needs schools are there in the Cayman Islands?
Lighthouse School in George Town is the government's special school for students with special educational needs and disabilities. It teaches an adapted national curriculum focused on life skills and independence and was rated Good by the Office of Education Standards in November 2025. Cayman Learning Centre & School is a small private school for Years 1 to 9 that serves students with specific learning difficulties.
How do I get my child assessed for special educational needs in Cayman?
Several private clinics in our directory offer assessments. KidsAbility Paediatric Therapy Clinic lists psycho-educational and neuropsychological assessments, and Chatterbox lists autism diagnostic services. Speech and occupational therapy clinics can also assess a child's needs in those areas. If your child is under school age, ask about the government's Early Intervention Programme. If they are at school, start with the school's own learning support team.
What is the Early Intervention Programme in Cayman?
The Early Intervention Programme (EIP) is a Department of Education Services programme for children from birth to school-entry age who have developmental difficulties. It is a service, not a school, so it does not appear in the government's register of schools. Contact the Department of Education Services to ask about referral and the support available for your child.
Where can my child get speech or occupational therapy in Grand Cayman?
Our directory lists four private clinics in George Town offering speech and language therapy: Chatterbox, Cayman Theraplay, KidsAbility Paediatric Therapy Clinic and The Speech Studio. The first three also offer occupational therapy. Chatterbox and KidsAbility also offer feeding therapy, and Cayman Theraplay has sensory gyms. The Speech Studio works with infants from birth as well as preschool and school-age children.
Do schools in Cayman support children with learning difficulties?
Some schools have specific provision. Cayman Learning Centre & School serves students with specific learning difficulties, Hope Academy offers clinical services, and Sir John A. Cumber Primary has two autism (ASD) classes, according to the Department of Education Services. Lighthouse School is the government special school. For other schools, ask what learning support staff they have and how support is planned and reviewed.
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