£1.5million of funding for SEND provision in district’s schools
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Schools in the Wakefield district have benefitted from over £1.5millon of grant funding to enhance provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Since 2021, 47 schools have used the additional funds to create sensory rooms, nature spaces and outdoor classrooms.
“Our schools, colleges and early years settings have used this funding imaginatively and resourcefully to improve the educational experience of children and young people with SEND.
“They know their children and young people’s needs really well and what will support them. We recognise that where children and young people with SEND can attend their local mainstream schools, they build friendships with their peers, have a greater sense of belonging to their local community, and have better outcomes, which is why this funding is so important.”
Cllr Margaret Isherwood
Cabinet Member for Children and Young People
In March 2021, the Government announced the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation (HNPCA), with the purpose of providing local authorities funding to invest in providing new places or to improve the existing provision for pupils and students with high needs. Since then, Wakefield has continued to ring-fence funding from the High Needs Capital Fund for mainstream schools, colleges, and early years settings to bid for grants of up to £50k.
One of the schools to benefit is The Castle Nursery School. They have used the funding to further develop The Garden Room (enhanced SEND) provision to meet the needs of the increasing number of children attending the school.
Kirsty Quinn, Executive Headteacher at The Castle Nursery School, said: “At The Castle Nursery School, we have an enhanced SEND provision which offers children access to the Early Years curriculum in a quieter room, with a small number of children and a higher level of staffing. It offers a lower stimulation environment that enables staff to plan activities based around individual interests, at an appropriate pace, in order to extend and develop learning further. The quieter room offers a communication-based curriculum and activities to develop children’s attention, listening and social interaction skills.”
Another school to benefit is Pinders Primary School. They have used the money to continue to develop the nurture provision (started in Spring 2023) to include an outdoor space/garden to support pupils with their social, emotional and mental health.
Kelly Rowlands, Assistant Headteacher at Pinders Primary School, said: “All staff feel that the spaces have reduced dysregulation in the classroom, allowing children to be reintegrated once calm and ready to learn. Parents are very pleased about the adapted environments and have been very complimentary of how the school can meet the needs of all children.”
This funding continues to be available to schools across the academic year 2024/2025 to deliver more projects to support children with SEND.
Schools that have benefitted:
Altofts Junior School - £11,687.20
Created a sensory space and an adapted provision teaching area to meet the needs of both EHCP children and those with Learner Profiles to address social, emotional and mental health needs and the delivery of bespoke curriculums at an appropriate level.
Cherry Tree Academy - £48,491,24
Have built a cabin, situated outside the main school building, which offers a space for focused intervention for children with autism, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) and behavioural difficulties. The difficulties these children have are causing a barrier to learning within a mainstream class and the cabin provides children with a ‘step-out’ curriculum provision.
Crofton Infants School - £31,000
Have created a dedicated area for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), providing them with a safe and supportive environment tailored to their individual requirements. This space will be designed to facilitate personalised learning, relaxation, sensory stimulation and intervention support.
Holy Family & St Michael’s Catholic Primary School - £28,136
Have built an outdoor wooden classroom, split into two rooms. The smaller room is used for pastoral support, including ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) sessions every afternoon. The larger room is used as a base for SEND interventions.
King’s Meadow Academy - £45,000
Have created a designated nurture space that will benefit all children in school, particularly the most vulnerable including those at risk of suspension and permanent exclusion.
Pinder’s Primary School - £16,800
Have used the money to continue to develop the nurture provision (started in Spring 2023) to include an outdoor space/garden to support pupils with their social, emotional and mental health.
Ryhill Junior, Infant and Nursery School - £20,628.60
Have created a new sensory garden near their enclosed pond area.
St Giles C of E Academy - £43,150.00
Have successfully developed a sensory garden alongside ‘The Ark,’ their enriched mainstream classroom. This dedicated outdoor space provides a calm and supportive environment, helping children who may struggle with unstructured playtimes.
St Thomas CE (VC) Junior School - £29,000
Have created a new sensory room with lots of sensory, light, texture and visual objects. Also created a break-out room for children to release their anger. And additional resources to their nurture base.
The Castle Nursery School - £28,670
Have used the funding to further develop The Garden Room (enhanced SEND) provision to meet the needs of the increasing number of children attending the school.