Children's Support Service, Wickford
Children's Support Service is a pru school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Wickford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Children's Support Service in detail
Children's Support Service in its own words
In its own words: "We are friendly, polite, generous and considerate. We try to help our young people and be there for them when they need us. We find and build on young people's strengths and interests, and support them to be happy, confident and lead fulfilling lives."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 39 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 46% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.
Who goes there
46.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 81 pupils (79.4%) received SEN support and 21 (20.6%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wickford Rail Station, about 700 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Arundel Road (n-bound), 70 metres away.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from November 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2016 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
46.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Children's Support Service
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Children's Support Service from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Children's Support Service is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
52%
Available places
102 pupils
198 places
96 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Wickford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wickford
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
81
SEN Support
21
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
102
Total Pupils
74
Boys
28
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
55
Teachers
1.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,886
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Children's Support Service
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Children's Support Service
What is Children's Support Service's Ofsted rating?
Children's Support Service's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Children's Support Service?
No fixed boundary. When Children's Support Service is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Children's Support Service?
Children's Support Service has around 102 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Children's Support Service?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Children's Support Service on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Children's Support Service?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Children's Support Service?
Children's Support Service is at Alderney Gardens, Wickford, Essex, SS11 7JZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)