One comment was received in relation to the proposal to add a 10-place Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision to Broomwood Primary School, which raised 4 points for consideration. The comment and our response are below.
The conversion of existing space to accommodate the SEN provision may reduce the facilities available for other students and could negatively affect the quality of education for all pupils.
The classroom, which is being converted into the SEN provision, is currently occupied by an additional bulge class to help Trafford Council meet short-term increased demand for places in year 6. The bulge class is no longer required after the end of the current school year, leaving a vacant classroom space available for use.
An outdoor space that was not being used has been identified to be redesigned for use by the SEN provision, as part of the building works. This will not impact any existing outdoor space currently used by pupils in the school.
Linked to a declining birth rate in the area, Broomwood School is reducing their admission number from 60 to 45 over time. An existing, experienced practitioner with the Special Education Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCO) qualification will be running the nurture provision, and staff will be redistributed accordingly.
As a parent/carer, I feel there has been a limited opportunity for thorough consultation with families directly affected by this proposal.
Consultation took place in the spring term, with a survey sent out to 411 parents on 12 February 2025 through teachers at Broomwood Primary School. Responses were received from 97 parents and carers, of which 91% believed the provision was required.
Staff members were also invited to take part, and responses were received from 30 members of staff, of which 100% believed the provision was required. A follow-up letter providing updates was sent out to parents in the summer term.
When the statutory notice was published on 7 May 2025, this commenced a four-week period of formal representation where all stakeholders were invited to make comments or object to the proposal.
While integration is a goal, the practical challenges of catering for children with significant social, emotional and mental health needs within a mainstream school setting may not be fully addressed, potentially placing strain on teaching staff and support services.
All staff at Broomwood Primary School have had training in trauma and attachment, and a relational approach underpins the behaviour policy at the school. Staff have had further training as part of the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme and therefore have a clear understanding of why children may behave in a certain way and the best ways that they can be supported.
Broomwood Primary School is already very experienced in supporting children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs and has developed key systems which support these children whilst not having a detrimental impact on other pupils in the school.
Staff who are recruited to the school are people who buy into this approach. Supporting pupils with SEMH is a whole team approach, and therefore, any strain is not just on key individuals. With the extra budget, Broomwood Primary School is recruiting a specialist Teaching Assistant to help support the pupils within the nurture centre, so pressure will not be put on existing staff.
It is not clear whether other schools or dedicated specialist centres were considered as potentially more suitable locations for this provision.
We invited expressions of interest from primary schools interested in delivering additional places for SEN pupils through small specialist classes. These were considered by Trafford’s School Places and Capital Board. The proposal put forward by Broomwood Primary School was successful and aligns with Trafford’s strategic objectives for supporting children and young people with SEND in their local community.
A number of other proposals to open new SEN provision at mainstream schools in Trafford were also successful, with 10 places being created at Templemoor Infant School in Sale, 20 places at Oldfield Brow Primary School in Altrincham and 20 places at Kingsway Primary School in Urmston.
These new proposals will build on the existing small specialist classes already provided in other primary schools across Trafford. There are currently 30 places at Acre Hall Primary School in Flixton, 20 places at Barton Clough Primary School in Stretford, 20 at Firs Primary School, 10 places at Moorlands Junior School, 8 places at Wellfield Infant School and 10 places at Wellfield Junior School, all in Sale.