Specialist Support Base

Specialist Support Base

Newsham Primary is one of a number of schools in Northumberland that has helped to develop a specialist provision model based in a mainstream primary school.

Our school has two Specialist Support Base classes; one for our youngest pupils (Nursery to Year 2), and the other for our oldest children Year 3-6). The SSB classes are called Sea Otters and Sandpipers. The names were chosen to match the nautical theme we have running throughout school.

Sandpipers have a maximum of 12 spaces and Sea Otters have 8 spaces.

What is an SSB?

About 4 years ago Newsham started to explore different ways of supporting our pupils with increasingly complex needs, particularly with ASD and SLCN. We started by supporting a small group of pupils in KS2 and this has grown and developed into fully commissioned specialist places for up to 20 pupils across 2 different pathways of provision. The model continues to evolve and Newsham takes part in multiagency meetings at local and national level to develop our offer and learn from best practice.

Who are the SSBs for?

Not all pupils with an EHCP will need specialist provision. We support an number of pupils in our mainstream classes with an EHCP. However, some pupils with more complex needs can have a ‘specialist placement’ agreed by the local authority.

Pupils in both of our SSB classes have an EHCP and must also have specialist provision agreed from the local authority panel.

Pupils in these settings will primarily have a need of Communication and Interaction, including, but not limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is likely that pupils will have other secondary needs, including but not limited to, SEMH caused by their communication needs.

Where are the SSBs?

The SSBs are situated within the main building of Newsham Primary School with Sea Otters having its own external entrance. The SSBs are an integral part of Newsham Primary School.

Ethos and Values

The aim of the SSBs are to provide and enable pupils to not only have their learning needs met, but also the opportunity to experience (within each individual pupils’ context) the same learning and social opportunities as their mainstream peers.

Each pupil who enters an SSB has their provision met at an individual level, in order to ensure that their communication, learning, social/emotional and physical needs are met.

Each pupil will have a high level of expectations placed upon them, allowing them to grow and thrive within not just the SSB setting, but also with their mainstream counterparts.

Admissions Criteria for Newsham SSBs

We can no longer admit pupils directly into our SSB provision now that it is specialist commissioned. This ensures fair access to places.

Children who will be considered for a placement in one of our SSB pathways will have:

· An EHCP (Education Heath Care Plan) or be on the pathway to securing one

And / Or

· Autistic behaviours significantly affecting development and learning, requiring some small group teaching, specific interventions, modified environments with fewer distractions, a fully differentiated curriculum and therapy input.

And / or

· Significant speech, language and communication difficulties and/or sensory issues and/or high anxiety levels requiring some small group teaching, specific interventions, modified environments with fewer distractions a fully differentiated curriculum and therapy input.

And / or

· Moderate learning difficulties requiring some small group teaching, specific interventions, modified environments with fewer distractions, a fully differentiated curriculum and therapy input.

Some children will have secondary social, emotional and mental health needs, caused by their ASD, speech, language and communication needs, or their moderate learning difficulties. It is expected these needs will reduce as they access a more bespoke and differentiated curriculum.

We advise that if you are interested in the SSB offer, to discuss this with your EHCP officer (sen@northumberland.gov.uk) and the choice advisor team at the local authority (choiceadvisors@northumberland.gov.uk).

Inclusion in the wider primary school

All children on role in an SSB will have the potential to be included in mainstream for at least part of each week. However, the needs of each pupil are considered and for some pupils this might not be appropriate for their current stage of development. We are always led by the pupils, their needs and discussions with families.

Please contact us if you would like more information about our specialist offer including information about curriculum, pathways and other services with whom we work.

more information about our SEND offer please click here.