Handford Hall Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Ipswich, Suffolk, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 114 of its 360 pupils (31.7%) were getting SEN support and 9 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 360 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Suffolk.
31.7% get SEN support
114 of 360 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
9 of 360 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication58
- Moderate learning difficulty21
- Social, emotional and mental health20
- Autism10
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia6
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
- 360 (places for 315)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Katarzyna Blake
- Part of
- Orwell Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 30.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Suffolk
- School reference (URN)
- 144212
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 Suffolk 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, January 2023; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (February 2020)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, February 2020).
Contact and getting there
57 Gatacre Road, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ
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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
- Redstone Hall School Independent · Ages 7–16 1.1 miles
- Stone Lodge Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 1.1 miles
- Chantry Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Castle Hill Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Springfield Infant School and Nursery Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 16.4%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.4 miles
- Springfield Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 13%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.4 miles
- St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 7.6%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.5 miles
Questions about Handford Hall Primary School
How many pupils at Handford Hall Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 114 of the 360 pupils (31.7%) were getting SEN support and 9 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Handford Hall Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (58 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (21 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (20 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Handford Hall 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 Handford Hall Primary School?
Through Suffolk 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 Handford Hall Primary School?
You can ask for Handford Hall 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 Handford Hall 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 Chantry Academy, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is Handford Hall Primary School?
57 Gatacre Road, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ, in Suffolk.
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.