Barcombe Church of England Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Lewes, East Sussex, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 16 of its 132 pupils (12.1%) were getting SEN support and 6 (4.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 132 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in East Sussex.
12.1% get SEN support
16 of 132 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.5% have an EHC plan
6 of 132 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia8
- Speech, language and communication5
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
- Voluntary controlled school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 132 (places for 140)
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Dean
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 6.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- East Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 114488
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
Graded by area, February 2025
Inspected in February 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Barcombe Cross, Lewes, BN8 5DN
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
- Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 2.9 miles
- Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.4 miles
- Chailey Heritage School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 3.9 miles
- Compass Community School Pinetree Park Independent · Ages 10–19 · Ofsted: Good 4.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Hamsey Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 39.4%, EHC plans 1% 1.9 miles
- Chailey School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 15.1%, EHC plans 3.5% 2.3 miles
- King's Academy Ringmer Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 21.9%, EHC plans 2.1% 2.9 miles
All mainstream schools in East Sussex SEND schools in East Sussex
Questions about Barcombe Church of England Primary School
How many pupils at Barcombe Church of England Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 16 of the 132 pupils (12.1%) were getting SEN support and 6 (4.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Barcombe Church of England Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (8 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Barcombe Church of England 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 Barcombe Church of England 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 Barcombe Church of England Primary School?
You can ask for Barcombe Church of England 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 Barcombe Church of England 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 Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School, about 2.9 miles away.
Where is Barcombe Church of England Primary School?
Barcombe Cross, Lewes, BN8 5DN, 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.