Hatton Special School

Hatton Special School is a nurturing community special school for pupils aged 3 to 11, all of whom have education, health and care plans. Pupils’ complex needs are known well, routines are clear and staff respond calmly and sensitively, helping pupils feel safe, understood and able to learn. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The curriculum is carefully organised into learning pathways that reflect pupils’ ages, stages of development and needs. Early years provision is safe and purposeful, communication and early reading are well supported, and staff adapt teaching using visuals, repetition and modelling. Personal development is promoted thoughtfully, governors and leaders support staff well, and most parents are positive about the school. The inspection identified some areas to improve. Occasionally, teaching is not closely matched to pupils’ developmental stages, and assessment is not consistently used to shape teaching, so some pupils do not build as securely on prior knowledge and can become frustrated or disengaged. A small number of parents feel their concerns are not always fully understood, and the school is taking steps to improve communication. The school was previously judged outstanding and received this graded inspection without an overall effectiveness grade.

Strengths

• Nurturing and thoughtful community where pupils’ complex needs are known well
• Clear routines and calm, sensitive staff support help pupils feel safe and understood
• Curriculum is carefully organised into learning pathways matched to pupils’ ages and needs
• Early years classrooms and resources encourage independence and exploration
• Communication support underpins early reading and helps pupils access learning
• Staff adapt teaching with visuals, repetition and modelling to support engagement
• Personal development promotes independence, self-expression and emotional development
• Governors and leaders support staff well through training and attention to wellbeing
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective
• Most parents feel their children are well cared for and kept safe

Areas for Improvement

• Occasionally, teaching design and delivery are not closely aligned to pupils’ developmental stages
• Some activities do not build carefully enough on what pupils already know or can do
• Assessment information is not consistently used to inform teaching across the curriculum
• In a few subjects, checks on learning are not strongly linked to what is taught next
• A small number of parents feel their concerns are not always fully understood

In 2024–25 pupils at Hatton Special School attended 89.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 31.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Hatton Special School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Hatton Special School had 6.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Hatton Special School had 197 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; autistic spectrum disorder.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Hatton Special School received £47,024 and spent £42,934 for each of its 197 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,020,000 (£5,178 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Redbridge · Redbridge local authority: places and applications

What is Hatton Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hatton Special School is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.

When was Hatton Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hatton Special School was last inspected in September 2025.

How many pupils does Hatton Special School have?

Hatton Special School has 197 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hatton Special School cover?

Hatton Special School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Hatton Special School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Hatton Special School?

Hatton Special School is at Roding Lane South, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8EU.