South Tyneside Council moves to make SEND hub at primary school permanent

South Tyneside Council's cabinet of senior councillors agreed to launch a statutory consultation to establish a permanent 'SEND additional resource base' at West Boldon Primary School

Plans to establish a permanent special educational needs hub at a South Tyneside primary school have moved forward, following a decision by local council leaders.

The cabinet of senior councillors at South Tyneside Council agreed this week to initiate a statutory consultation to set up a permanent 'SEND additional resource base' at West Boldon Primary School.

The school launched the temporary base in September 2023, as part of efforts to boost the borough's special educational needs capacity ahead of a new special free school opening. A report presented to the cabinet this week stated that the provision at West Boldon Primary School has "become quickly established and provides a safe, stable and secure learning environment for the pupils who attend".

It was also noted that South Tyneside Council had invested in the provision by providing "additional support and training" from the council’s "inclusion service and educational psychology team".

A proposed special free school in the borough, offering SEMH places, was expected to open in September 2025, but the opening date has been postponed.

As the new special free school is not due to open until September 2027, and due to increasing demand for placements for those with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), it was proposed to make the resource base at West Boldon Primary School permanent. To make the proposal a reality, South Tyneside Council needs to go through a statutory process, including publishing a statutory notice and holding a consultation.

The statutory process is underway, including the publication of a statutory notice and the commencement of a consultation period. The notice details plans to "establish a permanent 13-place special resource base for pupils with social emotional and mental health and communication and interaction difficulties".

According to the notice, "the unit will be located within the main body of the school and will cater for pupils aged 5 to 11 years old". The statutory notice is set to be published on October 7, 2024, followed by a four-week formal consultation designed to "give the opportunity for all stakeholders to provide comments, recommendations or objections to the proposal".

A subsequent report is anticipated to be presented to the cabinet at the end of November 2024, providing an update to senior councillors on the feedback received.

Councillor Liz McHugh, who holds the portfolio for children and families social care, education and skills, briefed the cabinet on the report during a meeting held on Wednesday, October 2.

She highlighted the growing need for support, stating: "The numbers of children with SEMH needs is on the increase at primary as well as secondary level," and pointed out that "Whilst the planned special free school will provide 56 places for primary age pupils when it opens in 2027, there is still a need for specialist places in mainstream primary schools".

The cabinet was informed through a report that if the proposal for West Boldon Primary School does not move forward, students "are likely to have to be placed in more costly specialist or out-of-borough provision". The proposed scheme also promises benefits such as "providing local provision for local children in order that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities can be educated in their own communities".

The Education Secretary has expressed concern that local children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), should be educated within their own communities. Councils are obligated to secure "sufficient appropriate education places", including provision for SEND pupils.

South Tyneside currently offers a variety of provisions for SEND students, from individual support in mainstream schools to designated special schools catering to various needs. A recent council audit highlighted an increased demand for social, emotional mental health places, which West Boldon Primary School's permanent resource base aims to address.

The cabinet report states: "The school is an inclusive school, and the special resource base will complement the school’s established specialism in supporting pupils with mental health/emotional wellbeing needs. The provision will give pupils who exhibit changing behaviours, communication and interaction needs and who have a need for a therapeutic multi-disciplinary intervention the opportunity to access mainstream provision with the specialist support they need".

Cllr McHugh further stated: "Following the consultation it is proposed to bring a further report to cabinet on November 27, 2024. This will provide the outcome of the consultation and will ask cabinet whether it agrees to establish provision at West Boldon on a permanent basis."

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