HNCPA funded SEND Unit
HNCPA (High Needs Provision Capital Allocations) funded SEND Unit at Werneth Primary School
We are working in partnership with Oldham Council to build a new SEND Unit within Werneth Primary School.
This project will enable the school to develop a nurture provision SEND Unit. The aim of this provision is to create a SEND Unit for children with Autism Spectrum Condition to access specialised provision within a SEND Unit set within our mainstream school building.
The project will increase local availability of high needs places incrementally over a number of years, offering additional places for children with additional needs.
The proposed works will improve the school’s SEND provision, creating a more inclusive learning environment area within the school for children with special educational needs.
The works include:
- the removal of the Activity Room extension and outdoor play area
- provision of a new 115m2 extension
- reconfiguration of the existing SEND area and landscaping.
This will create:
- open plan free flow teaching space
- accessible outdoor provision
- a SEND office for confidential meetings
- an intervention room
- a sensory circuit space
- a sensory room
- toilets & changing facilities.
The works are planned to commence in the New Year and will continue throughout 2026, with work being done during term time, as well as during school holidays.
To facilitate this, internal classrooms will be refurbished to create additional teaching space whilst the works are undertaken. A new external canopy will also be provided to the Key Stage 1 playground.
Completion of these works and the improved facilities provided will mean that we are able to continue to support the learning of identified children that currently attend Werneth Primary School and also welcome families from across the borough.
DfE Significant Change process
Werneth Primary School is proposing to make an application for ‘Significant Change’ to the Department for Education (DfE) to change the provision for children with SEND and implement a SEND Unit from 1st January 2027.
As part of the consultation process and legal requirements, we held a community consultation to share plans for the building and have written to parents and the local community to seek feedback regarding the proposed changes. A 3-week consultation process began on Monday 17th November 2025 and ends at 5pm on Monday 8th December.
Werneth Primary School already provides support to pupils with EHCPs in our mainstream classrooms and three Nurture Provisions. The benefits of securing the funding and implementing the proposed change are that the academy will receive place funding to support the development of the service provided, creating further strong links between families, the community and the school, and improved continuity of SEND provision. This will lead to better outcomes for the children.
The Local Authority supports Werneth Primary School by providing funding to meet the place demand from the local community, alongside enabling our future pupils and their families to access SEND provision in a mainstream school setting. It is envisaged that there would be no negative impact on the Academy, the children, the environment or the local community.
It is also envisaged that due to the Local Authority population projection and analysis of provision requirements, there would be no impact on similar local providers.
The placement of children would remain a parental preference.