What the hub will look like
Every host school will have either one or two classrooms within the SEND hub, with a maximum of two classrooms per school. Each classroom has capacity for up to ten places commissioned by the local authority via the EHC plan route, along with up to three places available for the host school to utilise at their discretion.
SEND hubs are being collaboratively developed with each host school and therefore the offer may vary depending on school preference, capacity within the school and local demand.
As a minimum, all hubs will offer:
- a suitably sized classroom, within the school’s existing building
- direct access to a breakout space or sensory space to allow time for pupils to regulate and manage their feelings
- direct access to secure outside space to allow free-flow learning and opportunities for regulation outside of the classroom
Host schools will receive funding which covers the full costs of facilitating the SEND hubs, including the following staffing levels per classroom:
- one qualified teacher
- two teaching assistants
- one intervention worker
- enhanced leadership time
- enhanced SENDCo time
- additional midday supervisor time
- additional learning resources
The hub will belong to the school, and be managed and staffed by the school.
We will be funding all capital costs associated with the development of SEND hubs. Schools and academies will not be detrimentally impacted financially with the implementation of the hubs, nor will they impact the school’s ability or financial capacity to meet the needs of children and young people educated in the wider school.
We began opening SEND hubs from September 2025 and have hubs established at the following schools:
- The Church Lane Primary School, Sleaford
- Gonerby Hill Foot Church of England Primary School, Grantham
- Ermine Academy, Lincoln
- Castle Wood Academy, Gainsborough
- St Michael’s Church of England Primary School, Coningsby
- All Saints Church of England Primary School, Friskney
- Parish Church of England Primary School, Gainsborough
- The Meadows Primary School, Lincoln
- St George’s Church of England Primary School, Gainsborough
- Caistor Church of England and Methodist Primary School, Caistor
- The Gainsborough Academy, Gainsborough
Each school hosting a SEND hub receives an enhanced level of training and the offer of specialist expertise to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. This training has been developed by expertise from the local special school sector.
