SEND School Places to Increase in Tameside for September Term

Pupils in Tameside will soon benefit from a £5.3 million investment to increase places in time for the September 2026 term.

Three new Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) and an expansion of a special school will be established as part of mainstream schools thanks to Tameside Council’s High Needs Capital Grant.

Laurus Ryecroft Secondary School in Droylsden, Ashton West End Primary Academy, St Stephen’s RC Primary School in Droylsden, and Cromwell High School in Dukinfield will see a total of 118 new places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in primary, secondary and post‑16 education.

The funding received from the Department for Education (DfE) will provide high‑quality, inclusive provision within well‑established schools with proven expertise in meeting SEND needs. The investment aligns with the Council’s ambition for all children within the borough to have a school place as close to home as possible which meets their individual learning needs, and for as many children as possible with an Education Health and Care Plan to have a suitable place within a mainstream setting.

Laurus Ryecroft Secondary School will gain 42 places and continue to deliver secondary and sixth form education in the borough. A new building will be fully accessible and meet modern standards for specialist education. Ashton West End Primary Academy will add 20 places in a new specialist resource provision by using existing space as well as the addition of a classroom. An additional 16 places will be available at St Stephen’s RC Primary School which already supports a high number of pupils with additional needs within its normal offer.

Cromwell High School will establish a satellite site at Quantum Point in Hyde. This will create an additional 40 places for children and young people with complex SEND, enabling children to continue their education throughout the school years, supporting the local authority in managing the needs of the most complex learners within an established provision within Tameside.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, Councillor Leanne Feeley said: “The increase of SEND school places in specialist and mainstream settings demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide appropriate school places and educational opportunities for children and young people with additional needs. SEND services are a Council priority and this investment follows the addition of 133 places created for the September 2025 term.

“Providing settings where children can thrive and ensuring these places are as close to home as possible is a key aspect in the Council’s SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2025-2030. Our SEND Local Area Improvement Board continue to work closely together to support families, and this development is another step forward in our partnership work.”

The Tameside Local Offer website provides news, updates and guidance on topics relating to SEND and can be found at www.tamesidelocaloffer.co.uk.