Mereside Primary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Blackpool for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 38 of its 266 pupils (14.3%) were getting SEN support and 13 (4.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 266 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Blackpool.
14.3% get SEN support
38 of 266 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.9% have an EHC plan
13 of 266 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 communication25
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
- Social, emotional and mental health8
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
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 266 (places for 454)
- Headteacher
- Mr John McDonald
- Part of
- Fylde Coast Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 70.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackpool
- School reference (URN)
- 143771
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
Rated Good, March 2013; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (July 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, July 2024).
Contact and getting there
Langdale Road, Blackpool, FY4 4RR
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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
- The Maple School Special school · Ages 10–16 · Ofsted: Inadequate 0.0 miles
- Stanley Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Marton Primary Academy and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Spen Brook School Independent · Ages 11–17 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St George's School A Church of England Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 9.2%, EHC plans 1.6% 0.5 miles
- Baines' Endowed Church of England Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 10.4%, EHC plans 3% 0.9 miles
- St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.6%, EHC plans 6.2% 1.2 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackpool SEND schools in Blackpool
Questions about Mereside Primary Academy
How many pupils at Mereside Primary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 38 of the 266 pupils (14.3%) were getting SEN support and 13 (4.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Mereside Primary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (25 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (10 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (8 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Mereside 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 Mereside 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 Mereside Primary Academy?
You can ask for Mereside 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 Mereside 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 Stanley Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Mereside Primary Academy?
Langdale Road, Blackpool, FY4 4RR, 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.