Consultation on Significant Change to SEND Unit
14th March 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
In October 2024 we wrote to you in order to consult on the development of resourced provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at Ash Croft Primary Academy. The original consultation is included below.
Since our original application, we have established an 8 place Inclusion Hub commissioned by Derby City Council and welcomed new pupils to our academy. We have also finalised plans for our new building and agreed timescales with our contractor and hope to have our build complete ready for September 2025.
We have made an application to the Department for Education requesting a permanent change to the number of places at the academy for pupils with SEND, who will be educated in an additionally resourced provision.
We are making an amendment to our original ‘Significant Change’ application to the Department for Education and as a result need to consult again on a change of date to that originally proposed.
The amended proposal is:
- 8 places from 1st May 2025
- 8 places from 1st September 2025
All other proposals remain the same as below.
If you have any questions or would like to comment on the whole proposal, then please the contact the Director of Education for the Harmony Trust Ltd using the following methods:
- In writing to Mrs J Hainsworth, Director of Education, The Harmony Trust Ltd, Ash Croft Primary Academy, Deepdale Lane, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 3HF
- or by email to info@theharmonytrust.org
This consultation will close at 5pm on Friday 4th April 2025.
Please do also feel free to discuss this with myself and Mrs Scott if you prefer.
Regards
Mrs Luff
Executive Principal
ORIGINAL CONSULTATION DOCUMENT – Please read carefully
Proposed implementation of an Integrated Resource Unit for pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) at Ash Croft Primary Academy, Deepdale Lane, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 3HF
Introduction
Ash Croft Primary Academy is proposing to make an application to the Department for Education to change the provision for SEND children and implement a SEND Integrated Resource Unit from November 2025.
As part of the consultation process and as part of the legal requirements, we are writing to parents and the local community to seek feedback regarding the proposed changes. The consultation process will end at 5pm on Tuesday 12th November 2024. Further details of the proposal is provided on the academy and the Harmony Trust website. The Harmony Trust will then consider comments received during the consultation period.
What is being proposed?
Ash Croft Primary Academy currently has a pupil admission number of 40 children per year group. Under the proposals, this will remain unchanged. The change would be to offer additional SEND places in a mainstream school, which is known as additional resource provision. The 8 additional places (plus 8 more places in September 2025) created will be designated to the provision of SEND pupils with Educational Health Care Plans, these places will be for existing and additional pupils.
Ash Croft Primary Academy provides support to our current SEND pupils using existing funding through the academy Inclusion Hub. The benefits of securing the funding and implementing the proposed change is that the academy will receive full funding for the places available to support the development of the service provided, creating further strong links between families, the community and the school and improved continuity of SEND educational provision resulting in better outcomes for the children.
The Local Authority supports Ash Croft Primary Academy by providing funding to meet the place demand from the local community alongside supporting our future pupils and their families to access SEND provision in a mainstream school.
It is envisaged that there would be no negative impact on the academy, the children, the environment or the local community. It is also envisaged that due to the Local Authority population projection and analysis of provision requirements, there would be no impact to other similar local providers and the placement of children would remain a parental preference.
What do I need to do?
If you have any questions or would like to comment on the proposal, then please the contact the Director of Education for the Harmony Trust Ltd using the following methods:
- In writing to Mrs J Hainsworth, Director of Education, The Harmony Trust Ltd, Ash Croft Primary Academy, Deepdale Lane, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 3HF
- or by email to info@theharmonytrust.org
Following the consultation period, the responses will be analysed carefully before any decisions are made by The Harmony Trust, regarding the proposals.
As always, my door is always open and if you would like to discuss anything please contact the school office to arrange an appointment.
Regards,
Mrs Luff
Principal
