Montalbo Nursery & Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Barnard Castle, County Durham, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 22 of its 240 pupils (9.2%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 240 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in County Durham.
9.2% get SEN support
22 of 240 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.3% have an EHC plan
3 of 240 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia7
- Speech, language and communication6
- Autism5
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
- 240 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mr Christopher Minikin
- Free school meals
- 14.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- County Durham
- School reference (URN)
- 114115
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 County Durham 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 Outstanding, January 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Fairfield Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8TN
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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
- Highcroft School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 6.4 miles
- Pear Tree School Independent · Ages 8–18 11 miles
- Bishop Barrington Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 12 miles
- Timothy Hackworth Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 12 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Teesdale School and Sixth Form Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 15.2%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.3 miles
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 27.2%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.4 miles
- Green Lane Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.4%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in County Durham SEND schools in County Durham
Questions about Montalbo Nursery & Primary School
How many pupils at Montalbo Nursery & Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 22 of the 240 pupils (9.2%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Montalbo Nursery & Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (7 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (6 pupils) and autism (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Montalbo Nursery & Primary School?
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 Montalbo Nursery & Primary School?
Through County Durham 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 Montalbo Nursery & Primary School?
You can ask for Montalbo Nursery & Primary School 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 Montalbo Nursery & Primary School 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 Bishop Barrington Academy, about 12 miles away.
Where is Montalbo Nursery & Primary School?
Fairfield Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8TN, in County Durham.
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.