Chailey Heritage School

Chailey Heritage School is performing effectively, building upon the high standards observed in its previous inspection. The school provides an exceptional environment for pupils with significant and complex learning and medical needs, ensuring that every child benefits from a highly ambitious and personalized curriculum. Despite the challenges faced by the pupils, the school maintains a high level of ambition for their achievements, supported by specialized resources and effective communication strategies tailored to each pupil's abilities.

Strengths

• Pupils thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment.
• The CHILD curriculum is bespoke and ambitious for all students.
• Staff demonstrate exemplary knowledge and expertise in supporting pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties.
• Effective communication systems are personalized to meet individual needs.
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils foster a positive learning atmosphere.
• Personal development provision is well-planned and inclusive of cultural diversity.
• Specialist therapies are effectively integrated into the curriculum to support physical development.

In 2024–25 pupils at Chailey Heritage School attended 81.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 63.6% 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 Chailey Heritage 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 Chailey Heritage School had 68 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 98.6%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

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 non-maintained special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Lewes · East Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Chailey Heritage School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Chailey Heritage School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Chailey Heritage School last inspected by Ofsted?

Chailey Heritage School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Chailey Heritage School have?

Chailey Heritage School has 68 pupils on roll.

What age range does Chailey Heritage School cover?

Chailey Heritage School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

Where is Chailey Heritage School?

Chailey Heritage School is at Haywards Heath Road, North Chailey, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 4EF.