Council extends school provision for children with SEND
New SEND bases, designed for children with SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities), have opened at four Dudley borough primary schools.
Located in Jessons, Dawley Brook, Rufford and Bromley Pensnett Primary schools, the bases add to a wider SEND provision, designed to help Dudley borough children who have an EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) to remain within their local mainstream school.
The four schools selected for the new SEND Units are each in receipt of up to £150,000 of capital grant funding, which will help to develop the setting; providing an enhanced environment suitable to meet the SEND needs of the children placed there.
Pupils accessing the bases spend most of their school day within them, but as they are based on school sites there are also opportunities for them to learn and socialise in mainstream classes.
The four new SEND Units are an addition to the already established bases hosted by Dudley schools. In the last five years; Dudley Authority have also developed SEMH bases within two mainstream primary schools; Hawbush Primary and Caslon Primary Schools.
Salahdin Thirlway, service director for education, SEND and family solutions said:
“The needs of children with SEND can vary greatly but we are always looking to support children to stay in mainstream schools wherever possible, as this enables them to be with their siblings and peers in their local community.
“SEND bases offer specialised support for pupils who have an EHCP with enhanced staffing, equipment and support available to them in a mainstream school.
“We are pleased to have been able to work closely with the Dudley Parent Carer Forum throughout the selection process of these four new bases and I am sure parents and pupils alike will benefit greatly from them.”
Sarah Lea, Headteacher of Jesson’s Church of England Primary School said:
“The Local Authority SEND base has been an amazing addition to our school. Our base is a vibrant and inclusive place, where all the children learn and play together.
“ Our SEND base pupils bring us a lot of happiness and joy and have only enhanced our inclusive practise and are an integral part of our school family and community.”
Funding for the four SEND Unit places have come through the government’s Designated Schools grant High Needs Block.
The council is also working with Woodside and Priory primary schools, which is part of Hales Valley Academy trust, with the aim of opening two further bases in 2025 as well as Crestwood and Ellowes High Schools who will be opening secondary bases within the next 12 months.
The extended SEND provision is part of Dudley Council's Child Friendly Dudley strategy, which aims to make the borough a great place for children to learn, play and grow.