Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is a mainstream primary school in Islington, London, for children aged 0 to 11. In January 2026, 73 of its 515 pupils (14.2%) were getting SEN support and 30 (5.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 0–11
- 515 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Islington.
14.2% get SEN support
73 of 515 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.8% have an EHC plan
30 of 515 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication34
- Autism33
- Social, emotional and mental health21
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 0 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 515 (places for 508)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sandeep McNicholl
- Free school meals
- 30.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Islington
- School reference (URN)
- 100397
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Islington council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, November 2024; school remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (March 2023)
Inspected in November 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, March 2023).
Contact and getting there
Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DR
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Side By Side School Independent · Ages 2–20 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- Samuel Rhodes MLD School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.9 miles
- Laycock Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Simon Marks Jewish Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Gillespie Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.5%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.2 miles
- Parkwood Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 16.8%, EHC plans 8.9% 0.2 miles
- St John's Highbury Vale CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 24.3%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Islington SEND schools in Islington
Questions about Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
How many pupils at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 73 of the 515 pupils (14.2%) were getting SEN support and 30 (5.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (34 pupils), autism (33 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Through Islington council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
You can ask for Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Laycock Primary School, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DR, in Islington.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.