FAQs

A Specialist Support Centre (SSC) is a specialist provision that sits within a mainstream school setting. It provides flexibility, so that some children can attend their mainstream school, but have access to specialist resources to enable them to access school more successfully.

The staffing ratio within an SSC can vary depending on the types of needs, expertise of staffing and the amount of time pupils spend in the mainstream classes and the SSC. Generally speaking, for KS1 the ratios would be 1 adult: 2 children, for KS2 the ratios would be 1 adult: 3 children.

A Social Communication SSC is specifically set up to meet the needs of children and young people with social communication differences or a diagnosis of autism. The Special Support Centre (SSC) is a specialist provision available to children and young people who have been referred through the West Sussex SEN Assessment Team (SENAT). Pupils will have an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that identifies the need for an SSC in the provision section.

The intention is that pupils in the SSC can access the mainstream curriculum, but where needed, this can be adapted to meet the needs of smaller groups and individual pupils. Specialised interventions and support can be provided to remove barriers to learning and address pupils’ individual needs.

If the proposals went ahead, pupils that are allocated a place in the SSC would attend some mainstream classes and be part of their peer group and the whole school community. However, they would also spend time in the SSC, the amount of time they spend in mainstream classes and the SSC would vary depending on the type and frequency of support that they need.

Should the proposals go ahead, the SSC would have the following facilities:

• 1 classroom
• A sensory and/or calm room
• Access to a quieter outside space
• Accessible toilets
• The school would have a linked Speech and Language Therapist. Therapy provision would remain linked to level of need of pupils.

Should the proposals go ahead, SENAT would manage the admissions process into the SSC. They would do this in consultation with the school.

If your child gets a mainstream place at the school either through the mainstream admissions team or through SENAT and they have an EHCP, they will not automatically get a place in the SSC. 

Playtimes and lunchtimes would continue as they currently do. For pupils placed in the SSC, they would have access to a quieter space where they can have their lunch and spend their playtimes, should they choose to. 

Where SSC pupils choose to spend their playtimes and lunchtimes depends on their individual needs.

Buckingham Park School is an inclusive ‘OPAL school’. Children are encouraged to play across year groups and there is plentiful staffing, who are there to help to facilitate positive play. OPAL stands for Outdoor Play and Learning, which is an accredited programme. The OPAL ethos encourages children to develop their independence.

Buckingham Park Primary School already supports some pupils with social and communication differences. Should the proposal go ahead to create an SSC at the school, then the enhanced resources and expertise would support pupils already attending the school as well as creating an opportunity for new pupils to join the school and access the provision. This would mean that some pupils that are currently traveling out of the area to access suitable provision, would be able to have their needs met in a more local provision. 

There would be a staggered intake to the SSC to ensure that the provision would be accessed across all primary age groups. 

If the proposals were to go ahead, inclusion with mainstream peers would be facilitated at every appropriate opportunity. The higher staff to pupil ratio in the SSC would support the school to include all pupils in school trips and outings. Accessing learning outside of the SSC would be seen as a really important element of children’s education.

There is a short narrow driveway leading to the school building, which would be unsuitable for dropping off and picking up pupils. Where appropriate the following would be considered to meet the needs of individual pupils:

• A quieter way of entering the school building
• Delayed or staggered drop off and pick ups

Should the proposals go ahead, there is unlikely to be an increase in traffic during school drop off and pick up times as the number of children attending the school would not be increasing. WSCC would endeavour to minimise any potential impact on the local community in relation to this, if identified.

Should the proposals go ahead, then an area within the school building has been identified as a suitable space. Any work that would need to be completed would be internal work only. This would be planned in advance, to minimise any impact on pupils or staff.