Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery is a mainstream primary school in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, for children aged 3 to 7. In January 2026, 42 of its 169 pupils (24.9%) were getting SEN support and 16 (9.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–7
- 169 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Blackburn with Darwen.
24.9% get SEN support
42 of 169 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
9.5% have an EHC plan
16 of 169 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication26
- Autism17
- Social, emotional and mental health13
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 7
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 169 (places for 180)
- Headteacher
- Mr James Waddington
- Free school meals
- 38.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 119122
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 Blackburn with Darwen 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, October 2016; school remains Good (December 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, December 2022).
Contact and getting there
Shorrock Lane, BLACKBURN, BB2 4TT
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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
- Eden School Special school · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Lower Darwen Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.8 miles
- Newfield School Special school · Ages 4–19 2.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Meadowhead Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 23.4%, EHC plans 7% 0.1 miles
- St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.3 miles
- St Aidan's Primary School - A Church of England Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 23.6%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackburn with Darwen SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
Questions about Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery
How many pupils at Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 42 of the 169 pupils (24.9%) were getting SEN support and 16 (9.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (26 pupils), autism (17 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Meadowhead Community Infant 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 Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery?
Through Blackburn with Darwen 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 Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery?
You can ask for Meadowhead Community Infant 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 Meadowhead Community Infant 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 St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery?
Shorrock Lane, BLACKBURN, BB2 4TT, in Blackburn with Darwen.
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.