Little Bowden School is a mainstream primary school in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, for children aged 5 to 11. In January 2026, 41 of its 368 pupils (11.1%) were getting SEN support and 7 (1.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 5–11
- 368 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Leicestershire.
11.1% get SEN support
41 of 368 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.9% have an EHC plan
7 of 368 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication13
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Moderate learning difficulty5
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
- 5 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 368 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Mr Brendan Brannigan
- Free school meals
- 13.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leicestershire
- School reference (URN)
- 119936
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 Leicestershire 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, January 2025
Inspected in January 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Scotland Road, Little Bowden, Market Harborough, LE16 8AY
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
- The Divergent School Harborough Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- The Robert Smyth Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- White Stacks Outdoor Learning Centre Independent · Ages 8–19 6.4 miles
- Kingswood Secondary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 7.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Welland Park Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 12.6%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.4 miles
- St Joseph's Catholic Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.9%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.7 miles
- Meadowdale Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.1%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Leicestershire SEND schools in Leicestershire
Questions about Little Bowden School
How many pupils at Little Bowden School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 41 of the 368 pupils (11.1%) were getting SEN support and 7 (1.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Little Bowden School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (13 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (11 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Little Bowden 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 Little Bowden School?
Through Leicestershire 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 Little Bowden School?
You can ask for Little Bowden 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 Little Bowden 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 The Robert Smyth Academy, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Little Bowden School?
Scotland Road, Little Bowden, Market Harborough, LE16 8AY, in Leicestershire.
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.