Hatfield Community Free School is a mainstream primary school in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 62 of its 406 pupils (15.3%) were getting SEN support and 17 (4.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 406 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
15.3% get SEN support
62 of 406 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.2% have an EHC plan
17 of 406 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 dyslexia27
- Speech, language and communication14
- Autism13
- Social, emotional and mental health7
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 406 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Victoria Hobson (Principal)
- Part of
- Hatfield Community Free School
- Free school meals
- 24.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138201
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 Hertfordshire 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, March 2025
Inspected in March 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Briars Lane, Hatfield, AL10 8ES
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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
- Southfield School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Lakeside School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 2.3 miles
- Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 3.0 miles
- Maple Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 4.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 10%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.2 miles
- St Philip Howard Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.1%, EHC plans 6.6% 0.2 miles
- Oak View Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Hatfield Community Free School
How many pupils at Hatfield Community Free School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 62 of the 406 pupils (15.3%) were getting SEN support and 17 (4.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Hatfield Community Free School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (27 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (14 pupils) and autism (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Hatfield Community Free 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 Hatfield Community Free School?
Through Hertfordshire 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 Hatfield Community Free School?
You can ask for Hatfield Community Free 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 Hatfield Community Free 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 Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School, about 3.0 miles away.
Where is Hatfield Community Free School?
Briars Lane, Hatfield, AL10 8ES, in Hertfordshire.
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.