Herons Dale School, Shoreham-by-Sea

The nearest other special schools to Herons Dale School are Hill Park School (1.3 miles, Outstanding); Hove Micro-School (1.3 miles); The Lioncare School (2.6 miles, Good); and Brighton and Hove Clinic School (3.1 miles, Outstanding).

33.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (8%).

Almost every pupil at Herons Dale School has an education, health and care plan (146 of 146 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.

Herons Dale School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The nearest railway station is Southwick Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Holmbush Centre (outside), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 176 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Herons Dale School issued 5 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.