Welcome to Kingsdown School

Kingsdown is a Special School for children aged 3 to 14 who have severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties. The majority of our pupils have communication difficulties.

Kingsdown School along with the three other special schools in Southend-on-Sea (The St. Christopher School, Lancaster School and St. Nicholas School) form the Multi Academy Trust, the SEN Trust Southend. This enables us to share expertise, resources and training across the schools whilst maintaining the individual ethos, status and character of each school.

Our Mission Statement ‘Be happy, communicate, learn and achieve’ is at the heart of all that we do. We aim to be outstanding in every sense of the word, by ensuring our pupils receive first class learning opportunities that are appropriate to their individual needs whilst being highly aspirational. We value each pupil as an individual with differing skills, talents and needs. Our vision is for every pupil to make progress towards fulfilment and we will never give up looking for ways to support our pupils to make their own choices in life, and achieve their own dreams.

Kingsdown School has a warm family environment where pupils flourish through personalised learning curriculums which are broad and balanced, fully integrated with speech and language therapy, sensory occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social, emotional and mental health support with opportunities to develop independence and essential life skills.  We value close professional relationships and, most importantly, our relationships with the families that we serve.

Our dedicated staff, some of who are specialists as therapists in art, music, sensory processing difficulties, food and rebound therapy, coupled with excellent resources including a sensory studio, outdoor nature space, rebound therapy, library, soft play area, swimming pool, specialised cooking, music and immersive rooms, play a pivotal role in enabling our pupils to thrive. Therapists provide tailored support that addresses the unique needs of each pupil, fostering both academic and personal growth. Our resources create a stimulating and adaptive environment that ensures a holistic approach to education, empowering pupils to overcome challenges, develop essential skills, and reach their full potential in a supportive and nurturing setting.

As a special school, we actively engage with our local community to enrich our pupils’ learning experiences and broaden their understanding of the world around them. By partnering with local businesses and utilising community resources, we provide our pupils with valuable opportunities for practical, real world learning. These experiences include therapeutic horseback riding sessions, which enhance physical and emotional well being; guided shopping trips to develop life and money skills; and our orchestra participating in music festivals to enable our pupil’s talents to be celebrated with others. These community based activities foster independence, social skills, and a sense of belonging within the wider community, ultimately preparing our pupils for a more inclusive and fulfilling future.

Hopefully our website gives you a good introduction to our amazing school, however there is no better way to experience our school than to visit us in person. Please contact us if you have any other enquiries or you would like to arrange a visit.