Laurus Ryecroft is a mainstream secondary school in Manchester, Tameside, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 188 of its 1,153 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 69 (6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,153 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tameside.
16.3% get SEN support
188 of 1,153 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6% have an EHC plan
69 of 1,153 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health101
- Speech, language and communication49
- Moderate learning difficulty35
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia18
- Autism17
- Physical disability8
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 secondary school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,153 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Mr Reece Carling
- Part of
- The Laurus Trust
- Free school meals
- 38.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tameside
- School reference (URN)
- 145894
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 Tameside 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 Outstanding, January 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Lumb Lane, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 7LJ
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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
- St Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Greenside Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- The Limes School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Hanthorn House School Independent · Ages 11–16 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Laurus Ryecroft
How many pupils at Laurus Ryecroft have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 188 of the 1,153 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 69 (6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Laurus Ryecroft?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (101 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (49 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (35 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Laurus Ryecroft?
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 Laurus Ryecroft?
Through Tameside 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 Laurus Ryecroft?
You can ask for Laurus Ryecroft 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 Laurus Ryecroft 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 Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Laurus Ryecroft?
Lumb Lane, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 7LJ, in Tameside.
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.