Wiltshire Council and secondary schools working together to provide more support for pupils with SEND

Two Wiltshire secondary schools will be providing a new service to help young people with Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities (SEND) from September 2023.

Both Clarendon Academy and John of Gaunt will have secondary resource bases on their sites with 10 spaces available at each site for incoming Year 7 pupils with SEND.

The secondary resource bases will provide young people with access to enhanced support, spending time in the base for specialist intervention while also joining mainstream classes.

Specialist advisory teachers and educational psychologists from Wiltshire Council will be working with the base staff to develop the resource base environment and ensure the successful transition and inclusion of students. Therapists from health services will also provide tailored intervention to meet needs, where appropriate.

The secondary resource bases are part of the council's planned programme to develop support for pupils with SEND in secondary schools across the county. The council already has a number of resource bases in primary schools.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: "We already have a number of resource bases in our primary schools and I'm really pleased we now also have this support available at our secondary schools. Our specialist teams will work closely with the schools to ensure young people have the support they require, while also being part of the wider mainstream school activities and learning to help meet their needs while supporting their aspirations."

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND said: "We have a clear SEND strategy which recognises the need for a range of SEND support across our schools. We are working closely with parents, carers and the school community to ensure children and young people can access the right support so they can enjoy their learning in an environment which helps them to thrive.

The John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge is part of the Equa Academy Trust. Headteacher Ben Rhodes said: "We are pleased that we are to broaden our provision to our wider community through the opening of a new communication and interaction resource base for young people.  

"The resource base will support students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who have communication and interaction needs. These learners require individualised intervention and will benefit from supported academic and social inclusion in a mainstream school environment. Up to 10 students will be placed in the resource base provision for Year 7, with a plan to increase these numbers and offer placements to other year groups over time in conjunction with Wiltshire Council.

"This venture, in collaboration with Wiltshire Council, increases the opportunities available to students who require this form of specialist support, enabling them to experience a happy and successful education within a mainstream school, that may not have been accessible in the past. At The John of Gaunt School, we are proud of the role we are taking in this project and look forward to opening the resource base in the very near future."

Clarendon Academy is part of Acorn Education Trust. Sara Edwards, CEO of the trust said: "Inclusion is integral to all our work in Acorn Education Trust, so I am delighted we are working with Wiltshire Council to establish a resource base at Clarendon Academy."