The Bridge Pioneer is a special academy in Basildon, Essex, for children and young people aged 3 to 19. It supports severe learning and PMLD.
- Ages 3–19
- 201 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
School details
- Type
- Special academy
- Ages
- 3 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 201 (places for 170)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Joanne Allain (Headteacher)
- Part of
- The Bridge MAT LTD
- Opened
- 1 June 2012
- Free school meals
- 40.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 138219
Needs it supports
3 needs: severe learning, PMLD and 1 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Essex (12)
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties Other schools for this in Essex (7)
It also lists other needs. Ask the school what these are.
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Essex council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, April 2019; standards maintained (October 2024)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in April 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, October 2024).
Contact and getting there
Ghyllgrove, Basildon, SS14 2LA
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Ghyllgrove Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 0.5 miles
- Merrylands Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 2.3 miles
- Castledon School Special school · Ages 5–19 2.5 miles
By need in Essex: Autism (18) · Severe learning (13) · Moderate learning (10) · Hearing (10) · Speech and language (9) · PMLD (8) · SEMH (7) · Dyslexia and SpLD (3) · Vision (3) · Multi-sensory (2)
Questions about The Bridge Pioneer
How do I get a place at The Bridge Pioneer?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult The Bridge Pioneer. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does The Bridge Pioneer support?
Severe learning difficulty and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Bridge Pioneer take?
Aged 3 to 19, boys and girls.
What is The Bridge Pioneer’s Ofsted rating?
There’s no overall grade to show. Read the school’s latest inspection report on the Ofsted website.
Where is The Bridge Pioneer?
Ghyllgrove, Basildon, SS14 2LA, in Essex.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.