Stanway Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Colchester, Essex, for children aged 5 to 11. In January 2026, 70 of its 390 pupils (17.9%) were getting SEN support and 16 (4.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 5–11
- 390 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Essex.
17.9% get SEN support
70 of 390 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.1% have an EHC plan
16 of 390 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health39
- Autism16
- Speech, language and communication14
- Moderate learning difficulty11
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
- 5 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 390 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rebecca Loader
- Free school meals
- 17.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 114732
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 Essex 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, November 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Villa Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0RH
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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
- Lexden Springs School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Inadequate 0.2 miles
- Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- The Willows Independent · Ages 11–17 0.7 miles
- Philip Morant School and College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Stanway Primary School
How many pupils at Stanway Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 70 of the 390 pupils (17.9%) were getting SEN support and 16 (4.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Stanway Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (39 pupils), autism (16 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (14 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Stanway 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 Stanway Primary School?
Through Essex 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 Stanway Primary School?
You can ask for Stanway 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 Stanway 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 Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Stanway Primary School?
Villa Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0RH, in Essex.
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.