Central Reading South

Summary

Central Reading South (E02006940) is part of Reading local authority (view on map). Central Reading South has an approximate population of 8,500 people, of which 14% are children 15 years old and under. It is classified as "urban: nearer to a major town or city".

Central Reading South neighbours Palmer Park, Coley Park, Southampton Street & Redlands Road, Kennet Island & Green Park, and Central Reading North.

Headlines

  • 3% of pupils have an EHC plan, placing it in the bottom 10% of all areas in England – see more.
  • 72% of pupils belong to a minority ethnic group, placing it in the top 10% of all areas in England – see more.
  • 58% of pupils have a first language known or believed to be other than English, placing it in the top 10% of all areas in England – see more.
Guidance and data sources

Local area pages are based on the middle-layer super output areas (MSOAs) distributed across the country. MSOAs comprise between 2,000 and 6,000 households and have a resident population of, generally, between 5,000 and 15,000 people. MSOAs fit within local authorities. For each area, descriptive statistics are compared with local authority and national averages. For more information about MSOAs, please visit the Office for National Statistics website.

The data displayed is sourced from:


Deprivation

Central Reading South is the 9th least deprived area in Reading (out of 19) with 34% of children living in low-income families, compared to 33% across Reading and 38% nationally.

Data source


State-funded pupil characteristics

Information acquired from the school census.

Free school meals

In Central Reading South, 22% of state-funded pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared to 23% in Reading and 27% nationally.


Contents

Percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals

Table showing the percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals

% in Central Reading South % in Reading % in England
Eligible for free school meals 22% 23% 27%
Not eligible for free school meals 78% 77% 73%

Data source


Special educational needs

In Central Reading South, 16% of pupils in state-funded settings have special educational needs (SEN), compared to 19% in Reading, and 19% nationally.

This includes the number of pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan and the number of pupils with SEN support.

3% of pupils have an EHC plan, placing it in the bottom 10% of all areas in England.

Contents

Percentage of pupils with special educational needs in schools

Table showing the percentage of pupils with special educational needs in schools

% in Central Reading South % in Reading % in England
No special educational needs 83% 81% 81%
Receiving special educational needs support 13% 15% 14%
With an education, health, and care plan (EHCP) 3% 4% 5%

Data source


Ethnicity

In Central Reading South, 72% of pupils are from a minority ethnic background, compared to 60% in Reading, and 33% nationally.

Percentages may not sum to 100%, due to small values being suppressed.

72% of pupils belong to a minority ethnic group, placing it in the top 10% of all areas in England.

Contents

Percentage of pupils by major ethnic groups

Table

% in Central Reading South % in Reading % in England
White 24% 40% 67%
Asian 46% 32% 14%
Black 10% 10% 7%
Mixed 11% 12% 7%
Other 5% 3% 3%
Not known 4% 3% 2%

Data source

English as an additional language

The percentage of pupils in Central Reading South with English as an additional language is 58%, compared with 37% in Reading, and 22% nationally.

Numbers may not sum to 100%, due to a small number of pupils with an unclassified language.

58% of pupils have a first language known or believed to be other than English, placing it in the top 10% of all areas in England.

Contents

Percentage of pupils with English as an additional language

Table

% in Central Reading South % in Reading % in England
Known or believed to be other than English 58% 37% 22%
Known or believed to be English 41% 63% 78%

Data source



Provider information

Jump to:

Registered childcare providers

Central Reading South has 6 registered childcare providers.

Type Number in Central Reading South
All childcare providers 6
Childminders 2
Pre-school/day nursery/out-of-school care 4

In Central Reading South, there have been 2 full inspections of childcare providers since the introduction of the renewed education inspection framework in November 2025.

Under the renewed education inspection framework, childcare providers are evaluated on the following areas:

  • Achievement
  • Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines
  • Children's welfare and wellbeing
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Inclusion
  • Leadership and governance

We use a 5-point scale to grade different areas of a provider’s work. The evaluation scale for each evaluation area, other than safeguarding, is:

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Achievement: 1 was graded 'strong standard', and 1 was graded 'expected standard' (of 2).

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: 2 were graded 'strong standard' (of 2).

Children's welfare and well-being: 2 were graded 'strong standard' (of 2).

Curriculum and teaching: 2 were graded 'expected standard' (of 2).

Inclusion: 2 were graded 'strong standard' (of 2).

Leadership and governance: 2 were graded 'strong standard' (of 2).

The tables below show the outcomes of inspections of childcare providers in Central Reading South. The tables are split by provider type, and show the number of inspections that have taken place for each area, and the outcomes of those inspections.

Contents

All childcare

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement
Achievement 2 0 1 1 0 0
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines 2 0 2 0 0 0
Children's welfare and well-being 2 0 2 0 0 0
Curriculum and teaching 2 0 0 2 0 0
Inclusion 2 0 2 0 0 0
Leadership and governance 2 0 2 0 0 0

Childminders

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement
Achievement 0 0 0 0 0 0
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines 0 0 0 0 0 0
Children's welfare and well-being 0 0 0 0 0 0
Curriculum and teaching 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inclusion 0 0 0 0 0 0
Leadership and governance 0 0 0 0 0 0

Full day care

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement

Sessional day care

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement

Out-of-school day care

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement

Other childcare

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement

Data source


State-funded schools

Central Reading South has 2 state-funded schools.

Type Number in Central Reading South
All state-funded schools 2
Nursery schools 0
Primary and all-through schools 1
Secondary and all-through schools 1
Special schools 0
Registered alternative provision 0

There have been no inspections of schools in Central Reading South since the introduction of the renewed education inspection framework in November 2025.

Data sources: