The Willows Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Ipswich, Suffolk, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 48 of its 259 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 26 (10%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 259 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Suffolk.
18.5% get SEN support
48 of 259 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
10% have an EHC plan
26 of 259 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Speech, language and communication22
- Social, emotional and mental health16
- Autism11
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
- 259 (places for 390)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kelly Head
- Part of
- Orwell Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 60.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Suffolk
- School reference (URN)
- 144216
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 Requires improvement, February 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in February 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Downing Close, Ipswich, IP2 9ER
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Chantry Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Stone Lodge Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 0.5 miles
- The Bridge School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Piper's Vale Primary - A Paradigm Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about The Willows Primary School
How many pupils at The Willows Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 48 of the 259 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 26 (10%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at The Willows Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (24 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (22 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (16 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Willows 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 The Willows 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 The Willows Primary School?
You can ask for The Willows 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 The Willows 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 0.4 miles away.
Where is The Willows Primary School?
Downing Close, Ipswich, IP2 9ER, 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.