Aurora Academies Trust and East Sussex County Council are proposing to establish a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) for pupils with autism at Glenleigh Park. The provision would support up to 12 pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) whose needs are best met through a combination of specialist support and inclusion within a mainstream school environment.  

Why do we need to establish a specialist facility at Glenleigh Park? 

Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  East Sussex County Council (the local authority)’s SEND forecasts provide clear evidence that there will continue to be an increase in the number of pupils with SEND in the coming years. 

The overall numbers of children and young people aged 4 to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) has been growing significantly. In 2024/25, the number of school aged children (aged 4-18) in East Sussex with an EHCP stood at 4,481.  There were also 412 young people aged 19-25 who need continued support to transition to adulthood.   

Over the next four years, the local authority forecasts that overall numbers of school aged children with EHCPs will grow, by around 22%, to nearly 5,500. 

School age children with an Education, Health and Care Plan from 2019/20 to 2028/29 

The number of children and young people identified as autistic is growing year on year and is translating into rapidly increasing numbers of EHCPs issued with a primary need classification of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are no signs of this trend reducing, and autism diagnoses look like being the biggest driver of rising EHCP numbers in the coming years. 

EHCPs by primary need group (school aged children) from 2019/20 to 2028/29 

 

In recent years, the local authority has been implementing its strategy to develop more places for SEND pupils. This includes the development of more specialist facilities in mainstream schools, supporting schools to be more inclusive and for children to be educated alongside their peers in their local communities. This strategy aligns with the recently published Schools White Paper which clearly sets out a vision for inclusion in mainstream schools and the ambition that children with SEND must be able to attend their local mainstream school and have their needs met. 

To support the ongoing need for more facility provision, Aurora Academies Trust, in partnership with the local authority, would like to establish a facility with a designation of ASD at Glenleigh Park.  The new facility would accommodate up to 12 pupils with autism and associated needs. 

What are specialist facilities? 

Specialist facilities are located within a mainstream school and provide specific support to a limited number of pupils with an EHCP naming a specific primary special educational need. Pupils within the facility are on the roll of the mainstream school and are in addition to the published admission number. The school receives additional funding from the local authority to support the child.  Placements are determined by the local authority according to clear criteria and may be drawn from a wider geographical area than the school’s usual catchment. 

Specialist facilities promote an ethos of inclusion and help integrate their pupils into the mainstream school for as much of their learning time as their needs allow. Specialist facilities also provide access to a base within the school for more intensive learning and support when required. The expertise of staff within specialist facilities provides significant benefits to the rest of the school and other schools in the local area to support all pupils with a special educational need and create a fully inclusive learning environment.   

Pupils in the facility have their special educational needs reviewed regularly in discussion with parents/carers and professionals to ensure that the facility remains the most appropriate placement to meet these needs. 

What will be the impact of the new facility on other pupils in the school? 

We expect the new facility to have a positive impact on provision at the school. Specialist staff would work with pupils in the new facility and also work with teaching staff across the school to develop skills and expertise in responding to special educational needs and creating an inclusive environment. This will ensure pupils receive a high-quality education from staff who understand their needs. 

Will building work be required to establish the new facility and, if so, how will this be funded?

Glenleigh Park and the local authority have identified space within the existing school as suitable to accommodate the new facility. Some adaptation work would be required to the building which the local authority would fund from its approved capital programme. The local authority would work closely with Glenleigh Park to ensure these are completed in time for the facility to open in 2027.  

Will Glenleigh Park remain a mainstream school? 

Yes. Glenleigh Park would remain a mainstream primary school. The proposed specialist resource provision would form part of the school and support up to 12 pupils with autism and associated needs. Pupils placed in the provision would be members of the school community, with access to mainstream classes and wider school life for as much of their learning time as their individual needs allow. 

Why has Glenleigh Park been identified for the proposed provision? 

Aurora Academies Trust and East Sussex County Council have identified Glenleigh Park as a suitable location for the proposed provision because of its commitment and expertise in inclusion. Space within the existing school has been identified that can be adapted to provide a specialist base, while enabling pupils to benefit from being part of an inclusive mainstream school community. 

Will the proposal affect the number of mainstream places available at the school? 

No. Pupils placed in the specialist resource provision would be additional to the school's published admission number. The proposal would therefore not reduce the number of mainstream places available through the school's usual admission arrangements. 

How would pupils be admitted to the specialist resource provision? 

Places would be determined by East Sussex County Council through the Education, Health and Care Plan process and in accordance with the criteria for the provision. Families would not apply directly to Glenleigh Park for a specialist resource provision place. The school's normal admissions arrangements for mainstream places would remain unchanged. 

How would pupils in the provision be included in the wider life of the school? 

Each pupil's provision would be planned around their individual needs. Pupils would have access to the specialist base for more intensive teaching and support when required, alongside opportunities to learn and participate with their peers in the mainstream school wherever this is appropriate. Their needs and placement would be reviewed regularly with parents or carers and relevant professionals. 

What benefits could the provision bring for pupils across Glenleigh Park? 

The provision would bring additional specialist knowledge and expertise into the school. Specialist staff would support pupils in the provision and work with colleagues across Glenleigh Park to strengthen inclusive teaching, build staff confidence and improve the school's capacity to respond effectively to a range of special educational needs. 

Would resources or funding be taken away from existing pupils? 

The local authority would provide additional funding to support pupils placed in the specialist resource provision. The adaptation works required to establish the specialist base would also be funded by the local authority through its approved capital programme. The proposal is intended to add specialist capacity and expertise to the school, rather than reduce the provision available to existing pupils. 

How would the school support a calm, safe and positive learning environment for everyone? 

The provision would be planned around the assessed needs of the pupils placed within it and would include an appropriate specialist base and additional support. Glenleigh Park would continue to apply its established expectations and safeguarding arrangements across the school, while ensuring that pupils in the provision receive the specialist support and reasonable adjustments they need. 

When is the proposed specialist resource provision expected to open? 

Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the required approval process and completion of the necessary adaptation work, the proposed provision is expected to open in 2027. The local authority would work closely with Glenleigh Park and Aurora Academies Trust on the detailed planning. 

What happens after the consultation? 

All responses received during the consultation will be considered as part of the decision-making process. The consultation feedback will help inform the final proposal and the decision on whether the significant change should proceed. Parents, carers and other stakeholders will be updated once the outcome is known. 

How can I find out more about this proposal? 

The consultation includes space for stakeholders to leave comments or questions. If you wish to discuss any aspect of this consultation further please contact the school office at Glenleigh Park by emailing office@glenleighppa.org.uk or phoning 01424 213611.

You can respond to the consultation by following this link: Glenleigh Park Specialist Resource Provision Consultation  – Fill in form