Brudenell Primary School

School and local authority details

School: Brudenell Primary School

Local authority: Leeds City Council, The Interim Director of Children and Families, PO Box 837, Learning Infrastructure - Assets Team, Children and Families, Leeds, LS1 9PZ

Description of alteration

Leeds City Council, in conjunction with the Lantern Learning Trust is proposing to establish an 8 place resource provision at Brudenell Primary School for pupils with speech, language and communication needs. 

The proposed opening date for the resource provision is September 2026. It is anticipated that once established, the resource provision would grow gradually over time rather than being at full capacity on opening.

The resource provision would cater for all primary age groups and all pupils attending the provision would be on the roll of Brudenell Primary School. Placements at the resource provision would be allocated through the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

The resource provision would have dedicated accommodation within the school. Children attending the provision would attend mainstream lessons where appropriate, in order to provide both a differentiated curriculum and access to social and wider curriculum activities within school.

The primary school currently has space within its existing building. The proposal is to utilise this space to create a learning environment to meet the specialist needs of the children who would attend the resource provision.

Evidence of demand

The number of children and young people living in Leeds with an Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) continues to increase each year, resulting in rising demand for specialist provision places across the city. Depending on their specific needs, pupils with EHCPs may attend mainstream or special schools. A resource provision caters for pupils with an EHCP who require a specialist environment within a mainstream school to support their needs. A need for this type of provision has been identified in this area of Leeds both in terms of current and future need.

Effect on other schools

The demand for special needs places within mainstream schools is greater than the current capacity in Leeds and the proposed resource provision at Brudenell Primary School would provide additional special needs places in future academic years. There is currently no other resource provision of this specialism in the area and the establishment of the proposed provision at Brudenell would not be expected to have a detrimental impact on existing resource provision within mainstream schools in the wider area.

Objectives

The council has a duty under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to secure diversity in the provision of schools and increase opportunities for parental choice. The council also has a duty to ensure that there are sufficient school places. There is an identified need for primary resource provision places in Headingley/Hyde Park and the wider area. Establishing a resource provision at Brudenell Primary School would offer increased choice so that local families are able to access a resource provision relatively near to where they live. This proposal would also address the demand for additional resource provision places in mainstream primary schools. 

Brudenell Primary School is Ofsted rated Good school with experience of supporting children with SEN. The creation of this provision will better provide for the sensory and learning needs of children with speech, language and communication needs and will enhance the quality of provision for pupils with special educational needs. 

This proposal contributes to Leeds City Council’s “Healthy: Health and wellbeing” ambition by giving children the best start in life in Leeds, especially those vulnerable to poor learning outcomes, supporting their health and wellbeing by providing tailored educational and social opportunities. Ensuring children have the best start in life in and enjoy a healthy, happy, friendly and safe childhood. This proposal directly links to Leeds City Council’s ambition of “Growing: Inclusive Growth” as Leeds is committed to reducing poverty and inequality by encouraging inclusive economic growth, delivering outstanding education and training, and ensuring everyone can reach their potential. It does this by addressing achievement gaps for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), enhancing their educational attainment and equipping them with essential life skills. Furthermore, the resource provision allows more children to remain within mainstream education, contributing to inclusive growth and helping to cultivate a diverse, skilled, and resilient workforce for the future.

This proposal links directly to Leeds City Council’s ambition of “Thriving: Strong Communities” as it promotes inclusivity by integrating children with SEND into mainstream settings, which enhances experiences for both staff and learners while fostering a stronger sense of belonging and community cohesion. This supports Leeds' aim to position itself as a welcoming, safe, and clean city with cohesive communities, ensuring that everyone has access to cultural, social, and sporting opportunities. A good quality school place also contributes towards delivery of targets within the Children and Young People’s Plan such as the 3As strategy to improve attendance, achievement and attainment of children and young people. 

This proposal supports the council’s climate agenda by reducing the need to transport children across the city to attend a resource provision. Reduced travel also positively impacts on health through reduction in the city’s carbon footprint and could be attributed to improving a child’s wellbeing through a shortened home to school journey time.

An expression of interest process was open to all schools across the city, as potential hosts for new resourced provisions for children with speech, language and communication needs. The review of expressions of interest was overseen by the SEND Commissioning team and assessed by staff from across Children and Families, with follow-up meetings to discuss vision, curriculum and accommodation.

Implementation and any proposed stages for implementation

The proposal is to establish an 8 place resource provision at Brudenell Primary School for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, with effect from September 2026.

The primary school currently has space within its existing building. The proposal is to utilise this space to create a learning environment to meet the specialist needs of the children who would attend the resource provision. It is anticipated that once established, the resource provision would grow gradually over time rather than being at full capacity on opening.

Project costs

There is no capital funding allocated for the establishment of this resourced provision. The proposal will utilise existing accommodation within Brudenell Primary School, and the places will attract the usual place programme funding for resourced provision places.

Support, objections and comments

Within four weeks of the date of publication of this proposal, i.e. by 24 May 2026 any person may submit comments, support or objections on the proposal to PO Box 837, Learning Infrastructure - Assets Team, Children and Families, Leeds, LS1 9PZ or email RPPlanning@leeds.gov.uk.