Herons Dale School

Herons Dale School continues to provide a good educational experience for its pupils. The school boasts a calm and inclusive atmosphere, with strong relationships between staff and students, ensuring that pupils feel safe and secure. The impressive focus on developing communication skills has significantly boosted pupils' confidence, and the curriculum is well tailored to meet individual needs, particularly excelling in mathematics. However, the recent rapid growth in pupil numbers and the complexity of special educational needs present challenges that the school is actively addressing.

Strengths

• Calm and inclusive atmosphere
• Strong staff-pupil relationships
• Impressive support for communication skills
• Well-tailored mathematics curriculum
• High priority given to personal development
• Effective safeguarding arrangements
• Dedicated and knowledgeable staff

Areas for Improvement

• Increased pressure on resources due to rapid pupil growth
• Challenges faced in maintaining high-quality education
• Heavier workload for staff
• Some concerns raised by parents due to recent changes

In 2024–25 pupils at Herons Dale School attended 88.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 34.8% 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, 3.4% of pupils at Herons Dale 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 Herons Dale School had 6.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.9% 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 Herons Dale School had 146 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; physical disability; 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 Herons Dale School received £30,361 and spent £29,768 for each of its 146 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £94,000 (£644 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).

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• Secondary Schools

All schools in Shoreham-By-Sea · West Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Herons Dale School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Herons Dale School is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.

When was Herons Dale School last inspected by Ofsted?

Herons Dale School was last inspected in March 2023.

How many pupils does Herons Dale School have?

Herons Dale School has 146 pupils on roll.

What age range does Herons Dale School cover?

Herons Dale School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Herons Dale School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Herons Dale School?

Herons Dale School is at Hawkins Crescent, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6TN.