The Basildon Lower Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Basildon, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 14. In January 2026, 145 of its 892 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 18 (2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–14
- 892 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
16.3% get SEN support
145 of 892 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2% have an EHC plan
18 of 892 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health48
- Moderate learning difficulty34
- Speech, language and communication30
- Autism26
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia8
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 secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 14
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 892 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Ms Rebecca Rees (Principal)
- Part of
- The Basildon Academies
- Free school meals
- 52.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 135895
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
Requires significant improvement. Report card, January 2026: Expected standard in 4 of 6 areas
Ofsted has placed this school in requires significant improvement.
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourUrgent improvement
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, October 2019).
Contact and getting there
Timberlog Close, Timberlog Lane, Basildon, SS14 1UX
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
- The Bridge Pioneer Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.2 miles
- Ghyllgrove Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 1.3 miles
- Castledon School Special school · Ages 5–19 2.2 miles
- Harris Academy Wickford Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about The Basildon Lower Academy
How many pupils at The Basildon Lower Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 145 of the 892 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 18 (2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Basildon Lower Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (48 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (34 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (30 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Basildon Lower Academy?
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 The Basildon Lower Academy?
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 The Basildon Lower Academy?
You can ask for The Basildon Lower Academy 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 The Basildon Lower Academy 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 Ghyllgrove Primary School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is The Basildon Lower Academy?
Timberlog Close, Timberlog Lane, Basildon, SS14 1UX, 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.