North Town Academy is a mainstream primary school in Taunton, Somerset, for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 60 of its 470 pupils (12.8%) were getting SEN support and 21 (4.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 470 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Somerset.
12.8% get SEN support
60 of 470 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.5% have an EHC plan
21 of 470 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication26
- Social, emotional and mental health15
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia14
- Moderate learning difficulty10
- Autism9
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
- Academy
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 470 (places for 417)
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Kerton
- Part of
- Richard Huish Trust
- Free school meals
- 10.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Somerset
- School reference (URN)
- 137126
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 Somerset 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, April 2013; school remains Good (March 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2023).
Contact and getting there
Staplegrove Road, Taunton, TA1 1DF
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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
- Silver Bridge School Independent · Ages 6–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- The Sky Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Inadequate 1.0 mile
- Holway Park Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Monkton Wood Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Inadequate 2.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about North Town Academy
How many pupils at North Town Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 60 of the 470 pupils (12.8%) were getting SEN support and 21 (4.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at North Town Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (26 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (15 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (14 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at North Town Academy?
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 North Town Academy?
Through Somerset 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 North Town Academy?
You can ask for North Town Academy 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 North Town Academy 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 Holway Park Community Primary School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is North Town Academy?
Staplegrove Road, Taunton, TA1 1DF, in Somerset.
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.