Consultation on establishing up to a 16 place Special Educational Needs Unit at Westleigh Methodist Primary, part of Epworth Education Trust. 

How can you have your say? 

You can have your say by: 

Completing the survey - SEND Provision Consultation survey at Westleigh Methodist or contacting the school via phone (01942 702967) & asking for the headteacher - Mrs Boardman) or email: admin@wlm.epworthtrust.org.uk

This consultation will be open for comments until 1^st August 2025

 

Context 

This consultation relates to Wigan Council’s proposal to make a prescribed alteration at Westleigh Methodist Primary by adding a Special Educational Needs Unit.

Wigan Council is actively developing proposals to enhance special educational needs (SEN) units within schools, focusing on strengthening mainstream settings and ensuring appropriate support for children with SEND. This includes reviewing existing SEN Units and extending the number of these across the borough. The council aims to provide a comprehensive and inclusive offer that supports children with SEND in mainstream environments while also ensuring access to specialist provision when needed. 

One of its proposals is to review and extend resource provision and SEND units in collaboration with schools, parents, and partners, as part of a broader SEND transformation program.

Westleigh Methodist Primary has been approached by Wigan Council to run a SEN Unit within its school.

It is proposed that, with effect from 1 January 2026, a designated SEN Unit is set up at Westleigh Methodist to enable up to 8 pupils with cognition and learning needs to be supported. This would likely extend to a total of up to sixteen places from 1 January 2027.

This consultation will be open for comments until 1^st August 2025

 

Why do we want to add an SEN Unit to the existing provision at Westleigh Methodist Primary? 

A Specialist SEN Unit provides places for children with special educational needs and disabilities who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) within a mainstream school. Children are taught in smaller groups with additional staff within the SEND Unit. The SEN Unit at Westleigh Methodist Primary, would be for children with cognition and learning needs and will eventually offer up to 16 places for pupils aged 5 to 11, although this would be limited to 8 pupils in the first year. This important new provision will both support Wigan Council to ensure that there are the necessary specialist places across the borough to meet need and demand, and increase opportunities for younger children to gain early access to specialist support and interventions they need.  

A SEN Unit is a provision that is more specialist than mainstream schools, providing a higher level of support for children and young people with SEND, but not a special school. They provide targeted support. This may be shorter-term provision to support a child into the most appropriate provision, or a longer-term placement attached to a mainstream school. Wigan Council provisions do not all provide a longer-term option for placement, which means that children and young people may move straight from mainstream to special school when their needs could be met in a longer-term targeted mainstream placement. This is a gap in the borough’s provision that the development of SEND Units and Resource Provisions within mainstream schools is designed to fill.

At Westleigh Methodist Primary, the school aims to provide a broad and stimulating learning experience which caters for the needs of all children through an exciting and balanced curriculum. The school knows that it is important to provide all children with the necessary skills which will enable them to become lifelong learners. Westleigh Methodist aims to create an ethos of high expectation, aspiration and teamwork. The school recognise that everyone learns best when they are valued, and they strive to ensure that all children receive the care and guidance they need. 

The introduction of a SEN unit supports these schools aims.

 What are specialist facilities? 

Specialist facilities are located within a mainstream school and provide specific support to a limited number of pupils with an education and health care plan (EHCP). Pupils within the SEN Unit are on the roll of the mainstream school and are in addition to the published admission number of the school. The Published Admission Number at Westleigh Methodist Primary is currently 30.  The school receives additional funding to support pupils’ needs. Placements are commissioned by the Council according to clear criteria. Pupils in the SEN Unit will 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. The SEN unit will be on the existing site with some minor building adaptations to create additional classroom spaces. The current classroom spaces will not be affected, and any minor building work required will take place during holiday periods, ensuring no disruption to the typical day-to-day running of the school.

 

What will be the impact of the changes to the SEN Unit on other pupils in the school? 

We expect the establishment of an SEN Unit at Westleigh Methodist Primary School will have a positive impact on provision at the school. Specialist staff would work with pupils in the SEN Unit and work with teaching staff across the school to develop skills and expertise in responding to SEND needs and creating an inclusive environment throughout the school.

 

 Why are we consulting on the above proposal? 

We have a responsibility to consult with the wider community on any prescribed alteration or  significant change to the organisation and structure of the school. The Department for Education  sets out how the consultation should run, and we will be following those guidelines. 

 

 How can you have your say? 

You can have your say by; 

Completing the survey - SEND Provision Consultation survey at Westleigh Methodist or contacting the school via phone (asking for the headteacher) or email: admin@wlm.epworthtrust.org.uk

Tel 01942 702967

 

How long is the consultation period? 

The consultation period will be open on 4^th July until 1^st August 2025.

If you have any further questions regarding the process or proposal, please do not hesitate to  contact head@wlm.epworthtrust.org.uk.