Poplars Community Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Lowestoft, Suffolk, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 58 of its 260 pupils (22.3%) were getting SEN support and 18 (6.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 260 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Suffolk.
22.3% get SEN support
58 of 260 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
6.9% have an EHC plan
18 of 260 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication23
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia19
- Autism12
- Moderate learning difficulty12
- Social, emotional and mental health10
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
- 260 (places for 598)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ashley Cunningham
- Part of
- Evolution Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 47.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Suffolk
- School reference (URN)
- 145541
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 Suffolk 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 Requires improvement, November 2023; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (June 2022)
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in November 2023.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, June 2022).
Contact and getting there
St Margaret's Road, Lowestoft, NR32 4HN
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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 Ashley School Special school · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- Roman Hill Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.5 miles
- Ness Point School Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Oulton Broad Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 2.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Poplars Community Primary School
How many pupils at Poplars Community Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 58 of the 260 pupils (22.3%) were getting SEN support and 18 (6.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Poplars Community Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (23 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (19 pupils) and autism (12 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Poplars Community Primary 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 Poplars Community Primary School?
Through Suffolk 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 Poplars Community Primary School?
You can ask for Poplars Community Primary 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 Poplars Community Primary 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 Roman Hill Primary School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Poplars Community Primary School?
St Margaret's Road, Lowestoft, NR32 4HN, in Suffolk.
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.