Purpose

To consider the report of the Head of Service seeking approvals for the establishment of SEND Resource Provision and Units in mainstream schools, following public consultation.

Decision

(i)  To approve the proposal to establish a Resourced Provision at Moorlands Primary School for Moderate Learning Difficulties/Autistic Spectrum Condition for 4 spaces from September 2026.

(ii)  To approve the proposal to establish a SEND Unit at Moorlands Primary School for Moderate Learning Difficulties/Autistic Spectrum Condition for 4 spaces from September 2026.

Reasons for the decision

1.  In the High Needs Block Guidance for 2025/26, The Department for Education have stated: The government has made it clear that the general direction of SEND reform is towards establishing a mainstream school and college environment that is more inclusive of children and young people who need specialist SEND provision, including in SEN units and resourced provision (RP). The department is working on a range of reforms that will facilitate that shift.

Specially resourced provision (SRP) and Designated Units (Units)

SRP and Units provide additional specialist facilities on a mainstream school site for a small number of pupils, typically less than 30, who usually have EHC plans or statements of special need. SRP and Units tend to provide for a specific need such as speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), hearing or visual impairment (HI/ VI) or autism. Less commonly they may provide for pupils with a physical disability (PD) or behavioural difficulty. SRP and Units vary widely, often reflecting the local approach to inclusion.

There is a difference between SRP and Units. In SRP pupils spend most of their time (usually well over 50% of their timetable) in mainstream classes. They only attend the SRP facilities for individual support, to learn a specific skill (for example braille for VI pupils), to receive medical or therapeutic support (for PD pupils) or to access specialist equipment. The facilities can be in a suite or dispersed throughout the school. Pupils in a Unit spend the majority of their time there, only attending mainstream classes for a few

lessons, such as PE, for assembly or for lunch. Pupils in both settings are on the roll of the mainstream school.

2.  SEND Place Planning suggests an increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) of 538 between 2024 and 2027, at primary and secondary phase.

176 of these pupils will have their needs met by the additional 176 special school places in the SEND Capital Programme. 191 children are anticipated to be accommodated by mainstream schools.

The further c.170 pupils with EHCPs will require accommodation in Resourced Provisions by 2027, anticipated on the following pattern:

2025/26 - 80 additional places (total places 163)

2026/27 – 120 additional places (total places 203)

2027/28 – 170 additional places (total places 253)

3.  The proposals in this paper are those that affect maintained schools who have been identified to provide places from September 2026, in ‘Phase 2’ of the expansion of Resourced Provision places in the City.

Further proposals at identified academies are in motion but are not required to be approved by Cabinet as academy schools follow a separate statutory process.

Further proposals at both maintained schools and academies are being explored for Phase 3 of the plans above and will be consulted on in the new academic year.

Alternative options considered

Not to implement.

To implement subject to a relevant condition.

To implement a modified proposal (subject to further statutory consultation).