76 additional school places for children with SEND across Norfolk

Nearly 80 spaces have been created at Norfolk schools for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). 

As part of Norfolk County Council's Local First Inclusion (LFI) programme, 76 extra spaces for children with SEND are being created in infant, junior and high schools across the county.  

These schools are already home to a developing network of Specialist Hubs of Inclusive Practice (SHIPs), operating within existing Specialist Resource Bases (SRBs) in Norfolk mainstream schools.  

Councillor Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "Increasing education provision for children with SEND is incredibly welcome news. SHIPs have been introduced to the SRB family of provisions across Norfolk mainstream schools to provide children who have co-occurring special educational needs with an enhanced offer of support and a personalised, child-centred approach to learning and development. We are committed to providing access to education so that all children in Norfolk can flourish, and this new provision is evidence of just that."  

The additional spaces, as follows, are available from September 2024: 

Specialist Hubs of Inclusive Practice (SHIPs): 

• Redcastle Family School - growing to 16 place provision. 
• Lionwood Infant School, part of the Inclusive Schools Trust - growing to eight place provision. 
• Lionwood Junior School, part of the Inclusive Schools Trust- growing to eight place provision. 
• Falcon Junior School - growing to eight place provision. 
• Sprowston Junior School - four spaces initially, growing to 16 place provision. 

One parent, whose daughter now attends Sprowston Junior School, said: "We knew that our daughter wouldn't cope well with moving to mainstream junior school, due to the additional support that she requires. Her placement at the SHIP has meant that these concerns have been addressed, and she now receives schooling at a level that suits her abilities in an engaging and welcoming environment." 

Mr Matt Walton, Headteacher at Sprowston Junior School, added: "It has been a very positive beginning. The children have enjoyed the adapted curriculum, an environment suited to their needs and still being part of the wider school community." 

A new Social, Emotional and Mental Health Base (SEMH SRBs) is also opening at Reffley Academy, part of Ad Meliora Academy Trust, which will grow to a 16-place provision. 

Several existing SRBs for children with autism are also increasing their capacity in the autumn term: 

• Sprowston Infants - eight additional places, an increase from 18 to 26 places with a brand-new classroom. 
• Nelson Academy, part of Eastern Multi academy Trust - two additional places, an increase from 10 to 12 places. 
• Edward Worlledge Primary, Part of Ormiston Academies Trust - six additional places, an increase from 10 to 16 places including a refurbishment of the existing spaces and an outside trim trail. 

One parent, whose child has just begun the new term at Falcon Junior School, said: "Our child has experienced really good first couple of days at the school. I can't thank you all enough for such a smooth transition. A huge thank you to the whole SHIP team for all your hard work - we really appreciate it." 

Councillor Carpenter added: "These extra provisions include a range of environmental adaptations and carefully designed spaces to support children to flourish and achieve well. 

"SHIPs are an exciting new expansion which further honour our commitment to create more specialist places under our LFI programme. I am excited to see our families and children benefit from the leadership and expertise of the schools delivering this important part of our SEND local offer."

These additional places are part of the £100m LFI programme which pledges to deliver hundreds of new specialist education places across Norfolk. It also aims to provide significantly more advice, support, and funding for mainstream schools to support inclusion with the 15 new school and community support teams that were introduced in September 2023, to give early help and support to both parents and schools.