The Lea Primary School and Nursery is a mainstream primary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 28 of its 239 pupils (11.7%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 239 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
11.7% get SEN support
28 of 239 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.3% have an EHC plan
3 of 239 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication11
- Social, emotional and mental health10
- Autism7
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
- 239 (places for 236)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Tracey Berry
- Free school meals
- 11% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 117327
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 Hertfordshire 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, October 2024; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (June 2023)
Inspected in October 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 Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, June 2023).
Contact and getting there
Moorland Road, Harpenden, AL5 4LE
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
- Sauncey Wood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 0.7 miles
- St Luke's School Special school · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.8 miles
- Claystone School Independent · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 3.5 miles
- Cutenhoe Hill Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 3.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Manland Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 6.9%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.5 miles
- St George's School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 5.3%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.5 miles
- Sir John Lawes School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 13.1%, EHC plans 2% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about The Lea Primary School and Nursery
How many pupils at The Lea Primary School and Nursery have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 28 of the 239 pupils (11.7%) 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 The Lea Primary School and Nursery?
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 (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Lea 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 The Lea Primary School and Nursery?
Through Hertfordshire 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 The Lea Primary School and Nursery?
You can ask for The Lea 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 The Lea 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 Sauncey Wood Primary School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is The Lea Primary School and Nursery?
Moorland Road, Harpenden, AL5 4LE, in Hertfordshire.
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.