Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre is a mainstream primary school in Leicester, Leicestershire, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 43 of its 407 pupils (10.6%) were getting SEN support and 19 (4.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 407 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Leicestershire.
10.6% get SEN support
43 of 407 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.7% have an EHC plan
19 of 407 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 health18
- Autism6
- 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
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 407 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Ms Jennifer Piper-Gale (Head of School)
- Part of
- Lionheart Educational Trust
- Free school meals
- 7.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leicestershire
- School reference (URN)
- 140725
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
Rated Good, March 2017; school remains Good (October 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2017. 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, October 2022).
Contact and getting there
Greengate Lane, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 3DL
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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
- ALP Leicester Independent · Ages 6–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- The Cedars Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Sandfield Close Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 1.6 miles
- Spark Vale Academy Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Inadequate 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Hallam Fields, Birstall Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.2%, EHC plans 4.7% 0.4 miles
- Riverside Community Primary School Birstall Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 6.1% 0.6 miles
- Glebelands Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Leicestershire SEND schools in Leicestershire
Questions about Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre
How many pupils at Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 43 of the 407 pupils (10.6%) were getting SEN support and 19 (4.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre?
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 (18 pupils) and autism (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre?
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 Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre?
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 Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre?
You can ask for Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre 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 Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre 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 Cedars Academy, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre?
Greengate Lane, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 3DL, 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.