Highwoods Community Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Colchester, Essex, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 83 of its 453 pupils (18.3%) were getting SEN support and 12 (2.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 453 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Essex.
18.3% get SEN support
83 of 453 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.6% have an EHC plan
12 of 453 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 health45
- Speech, language and communication17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia15
- Autism10
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
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 453 (places for 450)
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Disley
- Part of
- Highwoods Community Primary School
- Free school meals
- 17.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 139462
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, March 2015; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (June 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, June 2024).
Contact and getting there
Tynedale Square, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9SN
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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
- Kingswode Hoe School Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.1 miles
- Langham Oaks Special school · Ages 10–16 2.7 miles
- Philip Morant School and College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 2.8 miles
- Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- The Gilberd School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 10.3%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.3 miles
- Brinkley Grove Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 17.6%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.4 miles
- St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.6%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.5 miles
Questions about Highwoods Community Primary School
How many pupils at Highwoods Community Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 83 of the 453 pupils (18.3%) were getting SEN support and 12 (2.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Highwoods Community 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 (45 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (17 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (15 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Highwoods Community 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 Highwoods Community 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 Highwoods Community Primary School?
You can ask for Highwoods Community 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 Highwoods Community 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 Philip Morant School and College, about 2.8 miles away.
Where is Highwoods Community Primary School?
Tynedale Square, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9SN, 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.