Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery is a mainstream primary school in Southsea, Portsmouth, for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 78 of its 462 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 26 (5.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 462 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Portsmouth.
16.9% get SEN support
78 of 462 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.6% have an EHC plan
26 of 462 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 health38
- Speech, language and communication34
- Moderate learning difficulty22
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
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 462 (places for 450)
- Headteacher
- Mr Lee Branscombe
- Part of
- Gateway Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 48.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Portsmouth
- School reference (URN)
- 148709
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 Portsmouth 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, June 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Chivers Close, Southsea, PO5 1HG
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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
- Southsea Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.5 miles
- Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- Mary Rose Academy Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.4 miles
- The Harbour School Special school · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ark Charter Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 19.6%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.4 miles
- Ark Ayrton Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 9.1%, EHC plans 8.5% 0.4 miles
- Priory School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 13.2%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Portsmouth SEND schools in Portsmouth
Questions about Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery
How many pupils at Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 78 of the 462 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 26 (5.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (38 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (34 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (22 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery?
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 Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery?
Through Portsmouth 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 Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery?
You can ask for Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery 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 Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery 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 Southsea Infant School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery?
Chivers Close, Southsea, PO5 1HG, in Portsmouth.
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.