Lantern Community Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Ely, Cambridgeshire, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 50 of its 448 pupils (11.2%) were getting SEN support and 12 (2.7%) 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 Cambridgeshire.
11.2% get SEN support
50 of 448 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.7% have an EHC plan
12 of 448 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health22
- Moderate learning difficulty12
- Autism10
- Speech, language and communication10
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 444)
- Headteacher
- Mr Chris Axten-Higgs
- Part of
- Meridian Trust
- Free school meals
- 9.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cambridgeshire
- School reference (URN)
- 145804
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 Cambridgeshire 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, July 2014; school remains Good (October 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, October 2022).
Contact and getting there
Nene Road, Ely, CB6 2WL
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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
- Highfield Ely Academy Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Active Learning Trust Linc 19 - 25 Independent · Ages 19–25 0.3 miles
- Spring Meadow Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Witchford Village College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Isle of Ely Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.8%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.3 miles
- Ely College Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 8.4%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.5 miles
- Ely St Mary's CofE Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 17.3%, EHC plans 7.1% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Cambridgeshire SEND schools in Cambridgeshire
Questions about Lantern Community Primary School
How many pupils at Lantern Community Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 50 of the 448 pupils (11.2%) were getting SEN support and 12 (2.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Lantern Community Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (22 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (12 pupils) and autism (10 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Lantern 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 Lantern Community Primary School?
Through Cambridgeshire 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 Lantern Community Primary School?
You can ask for Lantern 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 Lantern 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 Spring Meadow Infant School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Lantern Community Primary School?
Nene Road, Ely, CB6 2WL, in Cambridgeshire.
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.