Cumberland Infant School is a mainstream primary school in Southsea, Portsmouth, for children aged 2 to 7. In January 2026, 23 of its 172 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 9 (5.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–7
- 172 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Portsmouth.
13.4% get SEN support
23 of 172 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.2% have an EHC plan
9 of 172 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication11
- Social, emotional and mental health10
- 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
- 2 to 7
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 172 (places for 180)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rebecca Herbert
- Free school meals
- 12.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Portsmouth
- School reference (URN)
- 116192
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 Portsmouth 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, December 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Methuen Road, Southsea, PO4 9HJ
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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
- Milton Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Mary Rose Academy Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.4 miles
- Devonshire Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.5 miles
- Cliffdale Primary Academy Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2025) 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Wimborne Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 2.9%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.3 miles
- Fernhurst Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 9.7%, EHC plans 4% 0.5 miles
- Craneswater Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 10.8%, EHC plans 5.3% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Portsmouth SEND schools in Portsmouth
Questions about Cumberland Infant School
How many pupils at Cumberland Infant School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 23 of the 172 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 9 (5.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Cumberland Infant School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (11 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (10 pupils) and autism (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Cumberland Infant 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 Cumberland Infant School?
Through Portsmouth 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 Cumberland Infant School?
You can ask for Cumberland Infant 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 Cumberland Infant 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 Milton Park Primary School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Cumberland Infant School?
Methuen Road, Southsea, PO4 9HJ, in Portsmouth.
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.