Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy is a mainstream primary school in Tower Hamlets, London, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 42 of its 660 pupils (6.4%) were getting SEN support and 37 (5.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 660 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Tower Hamlets.
6.4% get SEN support
42 of 660 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
5.6% have an EHC plan
37 of 660 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication59
- Social, emotional and mental health7
- Autism5
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
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 660 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Mr Kevin Jones (Principal)
- Part of
- Paradigm Trust
- Free school meals
- 52.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tower Hamlets
- School reference (URN)
- 140096
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 Tower Hamlets 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 Outstanding, November 2022
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in November 2022.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Wrights Road, Bow, London, E3 5LD
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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
- Phoenix School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Phoenix Autism Trust Independent · Ages 16–25 0.6 miles
- Childrens House Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.8 miles
- Wentworth Nursery School and Children's Centre Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Mulberry UTC Secondary · Ages 14–19 · SEN support 8.6%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.2 miles
- Olga Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.1%, EHC plans 6.3% 0.3 miles
- Chisenhale Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.8%, EHC plans 10.2% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Tower Hamlets SEND schools in Tower Hamlets
Questions about Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy
How many pupils at Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 42 of the 660 pupils (6.4%) were getting SEN support and 37 (5.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (59 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (7 pupils) and autism (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm 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 Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy?
Through Tower Hamlets 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 Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy?
You can ask for Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm 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 Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm 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 Childrens House Nursery School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy?
Wrights Road, Bow, London, E3 5LD, in Tower Hamlets.
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.