What is a Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Unit?
A Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Unit provision in a mainstream school supports pupils whose special educational needs make it difficult for them to access a mainstream curriculum, and these children will have more complex needs than those educated in an Additional Resourced Provision (ARP). This means that most, if not all, of their core learning takes place in the unit, delivered by teaching staff, and supported by Teaching Assistants and other specialist support.
They are able to offer:
- a highly differentiated and specialised curriculum, tailored to individual needs, with support from external professionals
- a higher adult-to-child ratio
- lessons within the SEND Unit, and minimal integration into mainstream lessons within the school
In Stockton-on-Tees, SEND Unit classrooms are devised for optimal space in units of 8 children and 3 adults. Children shall not be admitted into the space. In addition to this, to ensure that the special educational needs provision for those children accessing the provision is not detrimentally impacted.
