Orchard Infant School is a mainstream primary school in Southampton, Hampshire, for children aged 4 to 7. In January 2026, 33 of its 270 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 10 (3.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–7
- 270 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Hampshire.
12.2% get SEN support
33 of 270 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.7% have an EHC plan
10 of 270 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 communication19
- Moderate learning difficulty12
- Social, emotional and mental health6
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
- 4 to 7
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 270 (places for 270)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Nicola Wells
- Part of
- University of Winchester Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 10.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hampshire
- School reference (URN)
- 152144
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 Hampshire 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 Outstanding, March 2022
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2022.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Water Lane, Dibden Purlieu, Southampton, SO45 4SB
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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
- Noadswood School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Wildground Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–7 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Oak Lodge School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Dibden Park School Independent · Ages 8–16 1.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Orchard Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 17.5%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.0 miles
- Waterside Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.1%, EHC plans 6.5% 0.7 miles
- Hythe Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.1%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Hampshire SEND schools in Hampshire
Questions about Orchard Infant School
How many pupils at Orchard Infant School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 33 of the 270 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 10 (3.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Orchard Infant School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (19 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (12 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Orchard Infant 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 Orchard Infant School?
Through Hampshire 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 Orchard Infant School?
You can ask for Orchard Infant 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 Orchard Infant 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 Noadswood School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is Orchard Infant School?
Water Lane, Dibden Purlieu, Southampton, SO45 4SB, in Hampshire.
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.