The Olive School, Blackburn is a mainstream primary school in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 54 of its 638 pupils (8.5%) were getting SEN support and 26 (4.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 638 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Blackburn with Darwen.
8.5% get SEN support
54 of 638 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.1% have an EHC plan
26 of 638 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 health17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia11
- Autism10
- Physical disability6
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 638 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Smeena Riaz (Executive Headteacher)
- Part of
- Star Academies
- Faith
- Muslim
- Free school meals
- 4.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 139813
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
Graded by area, March 2025
Inspected in March 2025. 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
Contact and getting there
Meins Road, Blackburn, BB2 6QQ
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
- St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Eden School Special school · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.2 miles
- Newfield School Special school · Ages 4–19 2.6 miles
- Shadsworth Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 3.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 10.4%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.2 miles
- Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.4 miles
- St Silas's CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 18.3%, EHC plans 6.4% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackburn with Darwen SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
Questions about The Olive School, Blackburn
How many pupils at The Olive School, Blackburn have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 54 of the 638 pupils (8.5%) were getting SEN support and 26 (4.1%) 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 Olive School, Blackburn?
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 (17 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (11 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Olive School, Blackburn?
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 Olive School, Blackburn?
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 The Olive School, Blackburn?
You can ask for The Olive School, Blackburn 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 Olive School, Blackburn 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 The Olive School, Blackburn?
Meins Road, Blackburn, BB2 6QQ, 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.