Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery is a mainstream primary school in Newbury, West Berkshire, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 42 of its 221 pupils (19%) were getting SEN support and 7 (3.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 221 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in West Berkshire.
19% get SEN support
42 of 221 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.2% have an EHC plan
7 of 221 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty16
- Autism12
- Social, emotional and mental health12
- Speech, language and communication7
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
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 221 (places for 240)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Elizabeth Bucknell
- Free school meals
- 26.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Berkshire
- School reference (URN)
- 109861
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 West Berkshire 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
Rated Good, May 2016; improved significantly (March 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Improved significantly (ungraded inspection, March 2025).
Contact and getting there
Digby Road, Speen, Newbury, RG14 1TS
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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
- Speenhamland School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- The Castle School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- The Winchcombe School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.6 miles
- Northcroft Vocational School Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Shaw-cum-Donnington C.E. Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.5 miles
- St Nicolas C.E. Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 13.5%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.9 miles
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.8%, EHC plans 2% 0.9 miles
All mainstream schools in West Berkshire SEND schools in West Berkshire
Questions about Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery
How many pupils at Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 42 of the 221 pupils (19%) were getting SEN support and 7 (3.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (16 pupils), autism (12 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (12 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery?
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 Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery?
Through West Berkshire 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 Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery?
You can ask for Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery 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 Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery 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 Speenhamland School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery?
Digby Road, Speen, Newbury, RG14 1TS, in West Berkshire.
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.