SEND consultation begins at Glossop primary school

Derbyshire County Council has launched public consultation on proposals to formally recognise and strengthen specialist SEND support already being delivered at Whitfield St James' Primary School.

The school, on Chadwick Street, has been quietly providing high-quality support for children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), including pupils with autism and developmental delay, particularly those who are pre-verbal or non-verbal, through dedicated provision within the school. 

The council is proposing to designate Whitfield St James’ as both an Enhanced Resource School (ERS) and a SEND Unit, placing this existing work on a clear and transparent footing. The proposal would not require new buildings or additional capital spending, but is intended to help secure long-term stability for pupils, families and staff. 

Whitfield St James’ is a mainstream primary school for children aged two to eleven, with 303 pupils currently on roll, including 282 of school age. The school has capacity for 315 school-age pupils and also operates a 43-place nursery. 

Specialist provision currently includes the Sunflower Room, which supports pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 as part of the Enhanced Resource School offer, and the Bluebell Room, a SEND Unit supporting younger children who are pre-verbal or non-verbal. Children typically access the SEND Unit until the end of Key Stage 1 before transitioning into the ERS, returning to mainstream education, or moving on to a special school where appropriate. 

The council says the school works closely with the local authority on placement planning and that there is strong parental demand for places, driven by the school’s inclusive ethos and the support offered to children and their families. 

According to consultation documents, the proposed designation would allow for more secure long-term planning, particularly around staff training and development, and would formally recognise the expertise of both teaching and non-teaching staff in supporting pupils with special educational needs. 

Enhanced Resource Schools are funded through the High Needs Block, based on an agreed number of commissioned places at the start of each financial year, with additional top-up funding adjusted monthly according to actual occupancy and pupil need. 

The public consultation will run from 20 January until 16 February 2026, after which Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet will consider all feedback before making a final decision. 

Derbyshire County Councillor Jason Isherwood said: 

“I wholeheartedly support the great work the school achieves. This proposal recognises what is already being done well, supports some of our most vulnerable children, and gives families the reassurance that this specialist provision is valued, stable and properly supported for the future.” 

Comments, observations or objections can be submitted to Amy Warhurst, Development Section, at: amy.warhurst@derbyshire.gov.uk 

The deadline for responses is 5pm on 16 February 2026.