SEND centres help learning

Hudson Road Primary School in Hendon opened the doors to a brand new Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) provision this September, while Mill Hill Primary School in Doxford unveiled its new additional resourced provision for children with autism. 

The provisions will provide support to 32 children with additional needs and increase teaching specialism within the schools to the benefit of all pupils.  

The SEMH provision at Hudson Road is in the former Bright Stars Nursery and will offer 16 places for children at the school aged 4-11 with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP).  The site will offer an alternative and supportive environment which children will access alongside mainstream classrooms to promote their individual learning and meet their own developmental and emotional needs.

Mill Hill Primary School's autism provision has been built in an unused classroom and includes outdoor space, sensory space and bespoke teaching opportunities based on the individual need assessments of pupils. The site will support a further 16 primary-school-aged children who have autism and associated difficulties with communication and interaction.

The work carried out at Hudson Road and Mill Hill Primary Schools is part of TfC and Sunderland City Council's ongoing commitment to increasing the number of appropriate school places for children with SEND needs.

The council has invested over £24m in developing Sunderland's Special Educational Needs and Pupil Referral Unit provisions in the past 5 years. This has resulted in 272 new places for children with SEND needs in the city with a further 200 existing places being recreated in greatly improved buildings.

Pamela Robertson, Strategic SEND Lead for Together for Children said: "Our long-term strategy at TfC is to deliver SEND provisions within our existing schools where possible.  We know this offers the best support for the children themselves and their parents and carers, and we are delighted to have been able to deliver facilities in both Mill Hill and Hudson Road over the summer holidays.

"Both schools have a fantastic track record of support and inclusion, and the two new sites will offer the right mix of mainstream education and personalised support to meet the individual needs of the children in the school. We have the full backing of both schools and governors, and it was wonderful to see the children start to arrive at both."

There has been an increase of 85 per cent, which equates to 1,137 more children with EHCPs in Sunderland in the last six years, meaning demand for specialist support is higher than ever before. In addition to Mill Hill and Hudson Road developments, work on the SEND improvements will continue across the city, with cabinet most recently approving a £850,000 grant for an autism facility in Coalfields, Hetton.

Councillor Michael Butler, Sunderland City Council's Children's Services, Child Poverty and Skills Portfolio Holder added: "The opening of two new SEND focused facilities in Sunderland highlights our ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for families in the area.

"We are committed to inclusion, providing high quality facilities and working with partners across Sunderland to support young people with SEND needs and their families.  Most importantly, our goal is to ensure that children and young people are happy, safe, and healthy. These new provisions offer tailored support in a familiar environment, empowering young people to thrive."