Balby Central Primary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Doncaster for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 92 of its 448 pupils (20.5%) were getting SEN support and 9 (2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 448 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Doncaster.
20.5% get SEN support
92 of 448 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2% have an EHC plan
9 of 448 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication44
- Social, emotional and mental health21
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia13
- Autism12
- Moderate learning difficulty10
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
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 448 (places for 480)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Emma Cooke
- Part of
- The Rose Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 38.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Doncaster
- School reference (URN)
- 143962
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 Doncaster 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, January 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Littlemoor Lane, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 0LL
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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
- Harrison College Independent · Ages 16–25 0.6 miles
- Journey Education Group Independent · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.3 miles
- Plover Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 2.4 miles
- Scawthorpe Castle Hills Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.2%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.2 miles
- Hexthorpe Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.1%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.3 miles
- Atlas Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.6%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Doncaster SEND schools in Doncaster
Questions about Balby Central Primary Academy
How many pupils at Balby Central Primary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 92 of the 448 pupils (20.5%) were getting SEN support and 9 (2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Balby Central Primary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (44 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (21 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Balby Central 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 Balby Central Primary Academy?
Through Doncaster 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 Balby Central Primary Academy?
You can ask for Balby Central 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 Balby Central 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 Plover Primary School, about 2.4 miles away.
Where is Balby Central Primary Academy?
Littlemoor Lane, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 0LL, in Doncaster.
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.