Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Colchester, Essex, for children aged 5 to 11. In January 2026, 15 of its 124 pupils (12.1%) were getting SEN support and 0 (0%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 5–11
- 124 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Essex.
12.1% get SEN support
15 of 124 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
0% have an EHC plan
0 of 124 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
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 aided school
- Ages
- 5 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 124 (places for 140)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rebekah May
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 10.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 115138
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, December 2019; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2019.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
School Hill, Birch, Colchester, CO2 0LZ
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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 2.9 miles
- The Willows Independent · Ages 11–17 3.0 miles
- Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.3 miles
- Philip Morant School and College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 10.3%, EHC plans 4.9% 1.5 miles
- Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 9.4%, EHC plans 2.5% 2.2 miles
- Lakelands Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 2.9% 2.6 miles
Questions about Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
How many pupils at Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 15 of the 124 pupils (12.1%) were getting SEN support and 0 (0%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided 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 Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided 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 Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
You can ask for Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided 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 Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided 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 3.3 miles away.
Where is Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
School Hill, Birch, Colchester, CO2 0LZ, 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.