The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Sufficiency Strategy 2019 – 2024 has been developed to help the county council meet increases in demand and support more children and young people to be educated within their local community. As part of this strategy several SEND Units are being opened across the county.
What is a SEND Unit?
A SEND Unit is a supportive environment within a mainstream school for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who need additional specialist support at times during the week.
It enables children and young people with SEND to attend and enjoy the benefits of a mainstream school by accessing the mainstream curriculum and taking part in other activities with their peers. It includes specialist facilities and staffing and can draw on specific expertise when needed, such as therapists.
SEND Unit provision benefits children and young people by supporting them to:
- attend their local school or one near to their home
- attend the same school as their siblings
- play and learn alongside peers
- join in mainstream lessons and activities where appropriate
Lancashire SEND Units
Lancashire currently has four SEND units for up to 48 primary aged children:
- St Leonard's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, Burnley, opened in September 2021 and provides specialist support for children with social communication and interaction needs.
- Barrowford Primary School, Barrowford, opened in September 2021 and provides specialist support for children with social emotional and mental health needs.
- Delph Side Community Primary School, Skelmersdale, opened in January 2022 for children with social communication and interactions needs.
- Highfield Community Primary School, Chorley opened in February 2022 for children with social communication and interactions needs.
Planned Lancashire SEND Units
Lancashire has plans for more SEND Units and the following are confirmed:
East of the County
- Barden Primary School, Burnley, will provide support for children with social communication and interactions needs, opening April 2022.
- Walverden Primary School, Nelson, will provide support for children with social communication and interactions needs, opening April 2022.
North of the County
- Morecambe Bay Community Primary School, Morecambe, will provide support for children with social communication and interactions needs, opening September 2022.
South of the County
- Seven Stars Primary School, Leyland, will provide support for children with generic learning difficulties, opening September 2022.
- Ashton Community Science College, Preston, will provide support for children with social communication and interactions needs, opening September
Plans for more SEND Units are in development for Lancashire and updates will be provided as these progress.
Admission to SEND Units
- All children and young people attending SEND units will have an education, health and care plan.
- The special educational provision identified in a child or young person's education, health and care plan will be more than can reasonably be expected to be provided by a mainstream school without a SEND unit.
- Young people and/or the parents or carers of children can request a place at a SEND unit. It is expected that a request will be after an education, health and care needs assessment has been completed or following an annual review.
- Careful consideration will be given to all assessment and review information provided as part of the request by a multi-agency panel. The panel will decide whether a particular SEND unit is appropriate to the age, stage of development and ability of the child or young person.
- All relevant information on the child or young person’s needs will be forwarded to the school as part of the formal consultation on the placement in line with the SEN Code of Practice 2014.
- The local authority will seek the views of the school on the suitability of the placement before making a final decision. The local authority will have regard to the number and profile/balance of needs within the SEND unit.
Review, Monitoring and Evaluation
The headteacher and governing body of the school will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the SEND unit.
Successful outcomes for child or young person will include clear progress in their learning and development. Progress will be measured through the statutory annual review process.
Transfer out of the SEND Unit to mainstream provision
Recommendations for a child or young person moving from a SEND unit to another mainstream school may be made following an annual review meeting. Where a recommendation is made, the following would normally apply:
- the child or young person has made more than expected progress in comparison with other children and young people attending the SEND unit
- measurable progress has been made in the child or young person's areas of identified needs to meet his/her outcomes
- there is a noticeable improvement in the child or young person's ability to participate in the mainstream curriculum, with reduced levels of support, and to manage the social demands of the school environment
Transfer out of the SEND Unit to a different specialist provision
Recommendations for a child or young person to move to a different specialist provision may be made following an annual review meeting. Where a recommendation is made, the following would normally apply:
- the child or young person has made less than the expected progress in comparison with other children and young people attending the SEND unit
- the special educational provision required by the child or young person cannot be provided within the SEND unit
- limited progress has been made in meeting the child or young person's outcomes and in developing the independence, social and behavioural skills required to move towards greater participation in mainstream activities
- there is evidence that the child or young person’s social and emotional wellbeing is becoming adversely affected
Assessment and other relevant information presented at a child or young person's annual review will be used to inform a decision about whether a change of placement is needed. This decision will be made by a multi-agency panel in the same way as for admission to a SEND unit.