Wiltshire Council expands support for pupils with SEND through new secondary resource bases

Wiltshire Council is working in partnership with two local secondary schools to launch new specialist provision for young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), starting this September.

The Wellington Academy in Tidworth and Avon Valley Academy in Durrington will each open a new Secondary Resource Base, offering tailored support for incoming Year 7 pupils with SEND. Each base will initially accommodate up to 10 students, with plans to expand to 30 places at The Wellington Academy and 20 places at Avon Valley Academy in the future.

The secondary resource bases will provide young people with access to enhanced support, allowing them to spend time in the base for specialist intervention while also participating in mainstream classes.

The base at Avon Valley Academy will support learners with cognition and learning needs, while the base at Wellington Academy will focus on students with communication and interaction needs.

Wiltshire Council is working closely with school staff to develop the resource base environment and ensure the successful transition and inclusion of students.

Each resource base will be located in an area within the school site that offers minimal distraction and noise, while still being an inclusive part of the school.

The secondary resource bases are part of the council's planned programme to develop support for pupils with SEND in secondary schools across the county. The council currently has resource bases in 26 primary schools and three secondary schools. The additional bases will create a total provision for up to 75 secondary school resource base places and 548 places in primary.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “We already have a number of resource bases in our primary schools, and we are growing our resource bases in secondary schools. I'm really pleased we are creating more of these spaces so we can ensure our children and young people can be supported in local provision. Our specialist teams will work closely with the schools to ensure young people have the support they require, while also being part of the wider mainstream school activities and learning to help meet their needs while supporting their aspirations."

Jane Coley, CEO of Ascend Learning Trust, said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of a Resource Base at The Wellington Academy in September 2025. The Resource Base is a bespoke learning environment meticulously designed to cater to the unique needs of young people. It will provide students with an effective learning experience while integrating them into The Wellington Academy community. This project exemplifies the collaborative efforts between the Ascend Learning Trust and Wiltshire Council, with the primary focus being on meeting the needs of young people.”

Sara Edwards, CEO of Acorn Education Trust, said: “Inclusion is integral to all our work in Acorn Education Trust, so I am delighted we are working with Wiltshire Council yet again, to establish a resource base at Avon Valley Academy.  Avon Valley Academy is a wonderful school with a superb culture of belonging alongside high quality teaching and learning.”