Dedicated safe spaces coming to all secondary schools in the UK
The government has announced its plan to reform schools across the United Kingdom, making them ‘inclusive by design’ with dedicated safe spaces.
As part of a 10-year plan to transform education in the country, the government said it expects every secondary school to eventually have what it calls an ‘inclusion base’.
This is a dedicated safe space separate from classrooms that will provide pupils with targeted support, helping to bridge the gap between mainstream education and specialist provision.
The term ‘inclusion bases’ replaces currently used terms including SEN unit, resourced provision, and pupil support unit, which the government said will make it easier for parents to understand the support available for their child.
Inclusion bases can be additional spaces within the school building or repurposed existing space such as a spare classroom.
Other plans include the rebuilding of many schools and sixth-form colleges to align with this new approach to education. These initiatives all form part of a new 10-year plan to reform the UK education estate, with £1 billion of further funding set aside to revitalise old buildings.
The government will require that rebuilt schools are inclusively designed, incorporating clear wayfinding, comfortable lighting, and access to support spaces.
All schoolbuilding projects going forward will be assessed for the need for inclusion bases and Best Start Family Hubs, the government said, adding that it will provide new guidance for schools on converting existing space into effective areas for children with SEND.
“We welcome any commitment and investment to improve inclusivity and accessibility for local SEND children and their families,” said Unity Schools Partnership executive director for SEND Georgina Ellis.
“Our Trust is successfully running inclusion bases in a number of our schools and we have seen great outcomes in terms of attendance, attainment and a sense of belonging that has been fostered between the bases and their mainstream setting.”
“We are acutely aware that more SEND provision is needed, and will continue to be needed, and we look forward to working with partners and stakeholders as we grow our inclusion bases across all our schools,” Ellis said.
Inclusion is also being introduced as a new judgement within Ofsted reports, playing a role in determining a school’s overall score.
Further details on inclusion bases and the government’s approach to accommodating children with SEND will be set out in the School’s White Paper.
The 10-year renewal plan is backed by £38 billion in overall capital investment from 2025/26 to 2029/30.
