Rockcliffe First School is a mainstream primary school in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, for children aged 3 to 9. In January 2026, 21 of its 244 pupils (8.6%) were getting SEN support and 6 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–9
- 244 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in North Tyneside.
8.6% get SEN support
21 of 244 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
6 of 244 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication14
- Social, emotional and mental health5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 3 to 9
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 244 (places for 251)
- Headteacher
- Mr Tom Jones
- Part of
- The North Tyneside Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 8.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- North Tyneside
- School reference (URN)
- 108583
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask North Tyneside council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, February 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Grafton Road, Whitley Bay, NE26 2NR
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Southlands School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- John Spence Community High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.3 miles
- Whitley Bay High School Mainstream + base · Ages 13–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.4 miles
- Woodlawn School Special school · Ages 2–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cullercoats Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 6.6%, EHC plans 0.7% 0.4 miles
- Marden Bridge Middle School Middle · Ages 9–13 · SEN support 14.2%, EHC plans 1.6% 0.6 miles
- Marine Park First School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 7.1%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in North Tyneside SEND schools in North Tyneside
Questions about Rockcliffe First School
How many pupils at Rockcliffe First School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 21 of the 244 pupils (8.6%) were getting SEN support and 6 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Rockcliffe First School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (14 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Rockcliffe First School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Rockcliffe First School?
Through North Tyneside council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Rockcliffe First School?
You can ask for Rockcliffe First School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Rockcliffe First School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is John Spence Community High School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is Rockcliffe First School?
Grafton Road, Whitley Bay, NE26 2NR, in North Tyneside.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.