Riverside Community Primary School Birstall is a mainstream primary school in Leicester, Leicestershire, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 52 of its 409 pupils (12.7%) were getting SEN support and 25 (6.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 409 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Leicestershire.
12.7% get SEN support
52 of 409 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6.1% have an EHC plan
25 of 409 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health28
- Speech, language and communication25
- Moderate learning difficulty15
- Autism7
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
- 409 (places for 428)
- Headteacher
- Ms Rachel Roberts (Executive Headteacher)
- Part of
- Lionheart Educational Trust
- Free school meals
- 13.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leicestershire
- School reference (URN)
- 140746
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 (November 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, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
Riverside Community Primary School Birstall, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4JU
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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 0.6 miles
- Sandfield Close Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 1.0 mile
- Spark Vale Academy Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Inadequate 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10.6%, EHC plans 4.7% 0.6 miles
- Hallam Fields, Birstall Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.2%, EHC plans 4.7% 0.9 miles
- Herrick Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.9%, EHC plans 1% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Leicestershire SEND schools in Leicestershire
Questions about Riverside Community Primary School Birstall
How many pupils at Riverside Community Primary School Birstall have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 52 of the 409 pupils (12.7%) were getting SEN support and 25 (6.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Riverside Community Primary School Birstall?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (28 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (25 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (15 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Riverside Community Primary School Birstall?
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 Riverside Community Primary School Birstall?
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 Riverside Community Primary School Birstall?
You can ask for Riverside Community Primary School Birstall 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 Riverside Community Primary School Birstall 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 0.6 miles away.
Where is Riverside Community Primary School Birstall?
Riverside Community Primary School Birstall, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4JU, 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.