Dunbury Church of England Academy is a mainstream primary school in Winterborne Whitechurch, Dorset, for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 16 of its 131 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 4 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 131 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Dorset.
12.2% get SEN support
16 of 131 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
4 of 131 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication7
- Social, emotional and mental health5
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia5
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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 131 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Emma Richardson
- Part of
- Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 12.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 140561
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 Dorset 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 2017; school remains Good (January 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, January 2023).
Contact and getting there
Dolway Lane, Winterborne Whitechurch, DT11 0AW
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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
- The Luccombe Hub Independent · Ages 8–18 1.2 miles
- St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown Mainstream + base · Ages 9–13 · Ofsted: Good 6.3 miles
- The Forum School Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 6.9 miles
- Broadstone First School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–9 · Ofsted: Good 11 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Milborne St Andrew First School Primary · Ages 4–9 · SEN support 25.6%, EHC plans 4.7% 2.6 miles
- Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 12.5%, EHC plans 3.8% 4.4 miles
- Cheselbourne Village School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 14.3%, EHC plans 8.2% 4.6 miles
Questions about Dunbury Church of England Academy
How many pupils at Dunbury Church of England Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 16 of the 131 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 4 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Dunbury Church of England Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (7 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (5 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Dunbury Church of England 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 Dunbury Church of England Academy?
Through Dorset 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 Dunbury Church of England Academy?
You can ask for Dunbury Church of England 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 Dunbury Church of England 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 St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown, about 6.3 miles away.
Where is Dunbury Church of England Academy?
Dolway Lane, Winterborne Whitechurch, DT11 0AW, in Dorset.
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.