Anchorsholme Primary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Thornton-Cleveleys, Blackpool, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 53 of its 595 pupils (8.9%) were getting SEN support and 8 (1.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 595 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Blackpool.
8.9% get SEN support
53 of 595 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.3% have an EHC plan
8 of 595 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health16
- Speech, language and communication15
- Moderate learning difficulty15
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia5
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
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 595 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Julie Barr
- Part of
- The Sea View Trust
- Free school meals
- 17.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackpool
- School reference (URN)
- 140124
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 Blackpool 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; school remains Good (November 2019)
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 developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2019).
Contact and getting there
Eastpines Drive, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 3RX
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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
- Great Arley School Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Thornton-Cleveleys Red Marsh School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.3 miles
- Thornton Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Moor Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17.7%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.5 miles
- Norbreck Primary Academy Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 13%, EHC plans 1.3% 0.7 miles
- Thornton Cleveleys Royles Brook Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 8.7%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackpool SEND schools in Blackpool
Questions about Anchorsholme Primary Academy
How many pupils at Anchorsholme Primary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 53 of the 595 pupils (8.9%) were getting SEN support and 8 (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 Anchorsholme Primary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (16 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (15 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (15 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Anchorsholme Primary 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 Anchorsholme Primary Academy?
Through Blackpool 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 Anchorsholme Primary Academy?
You can ask for Anchorsholme Primary 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 Anchorsholme Primary 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 Thornton Primary School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is Anchorsholme Primary Academy?
Eastpines Drive, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 3RX, in Blackpool.
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.