SEN2gether

Thornhill Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Southampton for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 53 of its 318 pupils (16.7%) were getting SEN support and 10 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.

  • Ages 4–11
  • 318 pupils
  • Ofsted report card (2026)

Special educational needs here

From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Southampton.

16.7% get SEN support

53 of 318 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.

  • This school16.7%
  • England15.4%
  • Southampton17%

About the same as the England average.

3.1% have an EHC plan

10 of 318 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.

  • This school3.1%
  • England4.1%
  • Southampton3.6%

Lower than the England average.

Most common needs

  • Speech, language and communication31
  • Social, emotional and mental health14
  • Moderate learning difficulty9
  • Autism8

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
318 (places for 390)
Headteacher
Mrs L Carroll
Part of
Hamwic Education Trust
Free school meals
65.7% of pupils eligible
Council
Southampton
School reference (URN)
145222

How SEN support works

4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. An EHC needs assessment

    If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Southampton 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.

  4. 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

Report card, March 2026: Expected standard in 6 of 7 areas

Inspected in March 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.

  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • AchievementNeeds attention
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Early yearsExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • SafeguardingMet

Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, November 2021).

Contact and getting there

Byron Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 6FH

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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.

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Nearby

Specialist schools and SEN units

Other mainstream schools

All mainstream schools in Southampton SEND schools in Southampton

Questions about Thornhill Primary School

How many pupils at Thornhill Primary School have special educational needs?

In the January 2026 school census, 53 of the 318 pupils (16.7%) were getting SEN support and 10 (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 Thornhill Primary School?

Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (31 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (14 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (9 pupils).

Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Thornhill 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 Thornhill Primary School?

Through Southampton 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 Thornhill Primary School?

You can ask for Thornhill 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 Thornhill 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 Woodlands Community College, about 0.7 miles away.

Where is Thornhill Primary School?

Byron Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 6FH, in Southampton.

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.

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