Merrydale Junior School is a mainstream primary school in Leicester for children aged 7 to 11. In January 2026, 52 of its 354 pupils (14.7%) were getting SEN support and 4 (1.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 7–11
- 354 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Leicester.
14.7% get SEN support
52 of 354 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.1% have an EHC plan
4 of 354 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication23
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia7
- Moderate learning difficulty6
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
- 7 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 354 (places for 360)
- Headteacher
- Mr Antony Corbett
- Part of
- Discovery Schools Academies Trust LTD
- Free school meals
- 31.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leicester
- School reference (URN)
- 143244
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 Leicester 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, October 2019; standards maintained (March 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2019.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, March 2025).
Contact and getting there
Claydon Road, Leicester, LE5 0PL
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
- Catherine Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.8 miles
- Shenton Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Ash Field Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
- Keyham Lodge School Special school · Ages 9–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Merrydale Infant School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 11.1%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.0 miles
- St Barnabas CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 8.7%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.3 miles
- North Mead Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.5%, EHC plans 2% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Leicester SEND schools in Leicester
Questions about Merrydale Junior School
How many pupils at Merrydale Junior School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 52 of the 354 pupils (14.7%) were getting SEN support and 4 (1.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Merrydale Junior School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (23 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (11 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Merrydale Junior School?
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 Merrydale Junior School?
Through Leicester 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 Merrydale Junior School?
You can ask for Merrydale Junior School 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 Merrydale Junior School 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 Catherine Infant School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Merrydale Junior School?
Claydon Road, Leicester, LE5 0PL, in Leicester.
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.