Katherine Semar Junior School is a mainstream primary school in Saffron Walden, Essex, for children aged 7 to 11. In January 2026, 33 of its 256 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 8 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 7–11
- 256 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Essex.
12.9% get SEN support
33 of 256 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
8 of 256 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 health14
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia8
- Autism6
- Speech, language and communication6
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
- 7 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 256 (places for 270)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Julie Puxley
- Part of
- Saffron Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 13.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 141572
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
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 educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Ross Close, Saffron Walden, CB11 4DU
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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
- Granta School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 6.0 miles
- Bentfield Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 7.3 miles
- Magna Carta Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 7.7 miles
- Broadlands Hall Independent · Ages 9–20 · Ofsted: Good 9.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Katherine Semar Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 8.3%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.0 miles
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron Walden Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.1%, EHC plans 1% 0.6 miles
- R A Butler Infant School Primary · Ages 5–7 · SEN support 8.5%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.7 miles
Questions about Katherine Semar Junior School
How many pupils at Katherine Semar Junior School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 33 of the 256 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 8 (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 Katherine Semar Junior School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (14 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (8 pupils) and autism (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Katherine Semar Junior 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 Katherine Semar Junior 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 Katherine Semar Junior School?
You can ask for Katherine Semar Junior 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 Katherine Semar Junior 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 Bentfield Primary School and Nursery, about 7.3 miles away.
Where is Katherine Semar Junior School?
Ross Close, Saffron Walden, CB11 4DU, 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.