Consultation for SRP at TFS

Consultation on the proposal to add a 50 Place Specialist Resourced Provision for Pupils with cognition and learning / speech, language and communication needs at Turner Free School

Introduction

The Turner Schools Trust in conjunction with Kent County Council (KCC) would like to hear your views on a proposal to formally open a 50 place Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) for children with cognition and learning / speech, language and communication needs at Turner Free School from September 2026.

What is a Specialist Resourced Provision?

Some pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) need specialist support over and above that which is provided by their mainstream school utilising High Needs Funding.  For these pupils a place in a special school or an SRP is required. 

An SRP is a provision within a mainstream school which has dedicated teaching spaces alongside specialist resources and staff. SRPs are led by staff that have the appropriate experience and specialist qualifications needed to support pupils, in this case pupils with cognition and learning needs. The pupils integrate into mainstream classes when they are able to do so, and into other aspects of mainstream school life whenever possible. This enables pupils within the SRP to benefit from mainstream education alongside their peers, in their local community, whilst receiving specialist support and having a designated space when they need it.

Reasons for the proposal

The Local Authority is responsible for maintaining Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) for children and young people between the ages of 0-25 years.  As of January 2024, there were 19,407 children and young people with an EHCP in Kent.  This was an increase of 477 since January 2023. 

1257 of the children and young people with an EHCP were resident in Folkestone and Hythe.  Of these, 122 were secondary school aged who had an EHCP with moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties, or speech language and communication as the primary need type. These being the primary need type which an SRP at The Turner school may be able to support. 41 (34%) of the pupils were attending a mainstream school, 68 (56%) a KCC maintained special school or SRP and 11 (9%) an independent special school.

On average, secondary aged pupils with an EHCP were travelling 9.1miles to access a school place.  Travelling such distances is not in the best interest of the pupils.  More local provision would reduce journeys and enable more pupils with an EHCP for cognition and learning to go to school where they live.

There is currently no secondary SRP for pupils with cognition and learning needs / speech, language and communication needs in the in the District. Over the last two years there has been an average of ten Year 6 pupils discussed at the Headteacher’s panel meeting who the Local Authority had challenges finding an appropriate placement for Year 7. This is because their need profile and academic attainment does not fit either specialist or mainstream school setting. Through collaboration between Turner Free School and the Local Authority the Nest was established to offer provision for these pupils. The need for this type of specialist resource provision continues to grow and therefore the need to formally commission the Nest as an SRP for cognition and learning / speech, language and communication.

The Proposal

The proposal is that KCC will commission up to 50 places within the SRP for secondary aged children with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) for cognition and learning / speech, language and communication at Turner Free School.  Initially, the commissioned number of places for 2026/27 will be forty places made up of ten in year 7, ten in year 8, ten in year 9 and ten in year 10. 

Turner Free School is a Good school, with Good leadership and management. In their most recent report, OFSTED highlighted Turner Free School as a school that is “ambitious for all its pupils”. Staff are described as “knowing pupils well” and “having high expectations of them.” Inspectors also commented that “pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve as well as their peers in almost all subjects because well-trained staff provide strong support, and teachers adapt the curriculum successfully”.

Turner Schools’ mission is to transform children’s futures, empower families and strengthen communities. As an essential element of the Turner Schools Trust, Turner Free School is committed to improve the educational and social outcomes for the young people it serves. The school believes that it is their purpose to develop pupils to be a confident lifelong learner, a respectful and courteous citizen, and a good person who does the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

Across the Trust, there is a wealth of experience and expertise in supporting pupils with SEND. Moreover, there are already 4 open SRPs within our Trust schools. The Directors of SEND (SENDCOs) are all equally supported by The Trust’s Director of SEND. There is a strong team in place of specialist support staff, who are experienced in delivering a wide range of suitable interventions. This team includes a number of specialist cognition and learning / speech, language and communication learning mentors and Lead cognition and learning / speech, language and communication learning mentors. 

The Turner Schools Trust will convert existing rooms in the main school building to provide for the SRP. This will allow for five classrooms and sensory room spaces. This will be for the sole use of the SRP. 

The SRP will be a safe space for the students, providing them with a consistent ‘home’ to access the support of the SRP staff and a place where they can spend recreation time should they so wish. 

We believe that the SRP will develop the present staff body enabling them to support not just the pupils within the SRP, but pupils across the school who may have cognition and learning characteristics to a lesser extent. By including children with cognition and learning / speech, language and communication needs, other pupils will learn to appreciate the needs of others in the tolerant and caring community of Turner Free School.

In bringing forward this proposal all parties believe that opening an SRP for cognition and learning / speech, language and communication needs pupils will:

• Provide a much-needed resource that will support the growing number of secondary aged pupils with cognition and learning / speech, language and communication needs across Folkestone and Hythe District.  More directly, it will support families in Folkestone Town and the surrounding villages by reducing the distances pupils need to travel to access appropriate support;

• Build on the expertise that the Trust has in educating children with special educational needs including cognition and learning / speech, language and communication needs;

• Have a positive impact on the education and social understanding of other pupils within the school; and 

• Support pupils with cognition and learning / speech, language and communication in the transition from primary to secondary school and then from secondary school into post-16 provision, apprenticeships or supported employment. Turner Free School has a strong track record in ensuring successful transition arrangements, both into the school in Year 7 and as pupils move on to post-16, or post-18 provision. There are well-established relationships in place with local primary schools to ensure that pupils feel safe and secure when they start in Year 7. This is further strengthened by transition days, additional small group transition sessions and our summer school. Parents and carers are included in all transition arrangements. 

● The addition of a cognition and learning / speech, language and communication provision will release capacity for other need types in our special schools such as The Beacon Folkestone.

Admissions to the SRP will count within the School’s published admissions number.  The School currently offers 180 places each year for entry in year 7.  

How will pupils gain a place in the SRP?

To access a place within an SRP, young people must have an EHCP which identifies that their needs can be met in an SRP within a mainstream school. Admissions to the SRP will be determined by the Local Authority in consultation with the School Leadership Team.  Pupils presently attending this school who may benefit from being taught in the SRP will be assessed in the same way.  This would be in consultation with parents.  

Funding

KCC has provided capital funding to set up the existing two Nest classes. It is estimated that further capital funding of £65,000 will be required to set up the remaining three classrooms required.  Revenue funding for cognition and learning / speech, language and communication SRPs is £19,000 per place.  Both revenue and capital costs would be provided by the Local Authority if the proposal is approved.

How to find out more and give your views on the proposal.

You can find out more by attending a public drop in meeting at Turner Free School on Tuesday 17th June 2025.

Timeline

The dates below sets out what happens next: 

Monday 2nd June to Monday 14th July 2025: Consultation period.  Responses need to be received by Monday 14th July 2025.

Tuesday 17th June 2025 - 10-11am: A ‘drop in’ information session will be held at Turner Free School.

Wednesday 16th July 2025: Following the consultation, all views received, either by post or email will be reported to the Trust who will decide whether or not to submit a business case to the DfE. Should the decision be to continue, this will be shared with KCC’s Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee who will be requested to approve the funding to open the SRP.

Autumn 2025: KCC Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee meeting where funding for the SRP will be requested.

September 2026: Opening of the SRP, subject to Secretary of State approval.

Views

You can give your views by:

• Attending the drop in meeting

• Handing your response form into reception at Turner Free School

• Emailing - TFSSRPconsultation@turnerschools.com

• Sending the attached response form to: Kirsty Gardiner, Turner Free School, Tile Kiln Lane, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 4PB