SEN units
Find out more about the issues, what Contact is calling for, and download the findings from our focus groups
SEN Units and Resource Bases in Mainstream Schools in England
Some mainstream schools in England have specialist units or resource bases which provide extra support to children who have Special Educational Needs (SEN).
The Government has been clear in its intention to increase the number of SEN units and resource bases. This is reflected in stated policy aims and significant funding commitments, including the £740 million High Needs Provision Capital Allocation, intended to support the creation of 10,000 new SEND places and specialist facilities within mainstream schools.
What are the issues?
When specialist units and resource bases work well, they enable inclusion. However, the success of these units is dependent on how well they are resourced, as well as how effectively they interact with the wider mainstream school. It’s important that they are staffed by those who have appropriate teaching qualifications.
Recently, many local authorities have increased the number of specialist units in mainstream schools without any government guidance. This has led to a postcode lottery in the quality of teaching, specialist support and inclusive practices across units and resource bases.
Calls to Contact’s helpline suggests these units vary dramatically from one school to another.
Experiences of units and resources
Contact conducted a series of focus groups to capture the experience of parent carers who have children who either currently attend a unit or base or have done in the past, as well those who have considered this type of placement for their child.
The discussions revealed significant inconsistency in how these units operate, particularly regarding inclusion but also in terms of the support they offer. Parent’s experience of the support in units and bases varied widely—from well-resourced, flexible provision to underfunded hubs without qualified teachers or adequate therapy input.
To find out more about Contact’s findings, read the full write up of the findings from the focus groups here.
What Contact is calling for
Contact would like to see clear guidance for specialist units to ensure they are appropriately funded, staffed and founded on the principle of inclusion, respecting and protecting every child’s right to a mainstream education, whilst not replacing the role of special schools.
Done well, specialist units have the potential for more young people to feel included in their local school community. However, increasing them without suitable regulations or guidance could lead to them being entirely separate in teaching and location from the mainstream school, segregating pupils with SEN.
