Polegate Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Polegate, East Sussex, for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 124 of its 689 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 17 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 689 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in East Sussex.
18% get SEN support
124 of 689 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
17 of 689 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism48
- Social, emotional and mental health48
- Speech, language and communication27
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
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 689 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Deborah Jones
- Free school meals
- 17.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- East Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 114435
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 East Sussex 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 Outstanding, January 2020; standards maintained (May 2025)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in January 2020.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, May 2025).
Contact and getting there
Oakleaf Drive, East Sussex, Polegate, BN26 6PT
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
- Willingdon Community School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Willingdon Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- The Lindfield School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.9 miles
- Hazel Court School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 2.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Oakwood Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.3%, EHC plans 2.3% 1.7 miles
- Stone Cross School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.7%, EHC plans 1.7% 2.0 miles
- Parkland Infant School Primary · Ages 5–7 · SEN support 13.5%, EHC plans 2.2% 2.1 miles
All mainstream schools in East Sussex SEND schools in East Sussex
Questions about Polegate Primary School
How many pupils at Polegate Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 124 of the 689 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 17 (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 Polegate Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (48 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (48 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (27 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Polegate Primary 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 Polegate Primary School?
Through East Sussex 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 Polegate Primary School?
You can ask for Polegate Primary 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 Polegate Primary 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 Willingdon Community School, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Polegate Primary School?
Oakleaf Drive, East Sussex, Polegate, BN26 6PT, in East Sussex.
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.