Feedback Period Open to implement a resourced provision for pupils with SEN at Cottons Farm

28^th November 2025

Dear Partners and Stakeholders,

In October 2024 we wrote to you with our proposal to submit an application to the Department for Education to implement a resourced provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at Cottons Farm Primary Academy from November 2024. This formed part of a wider consultation across several of our academies, and the original details for Cottons Farm are included with this letter for your reference.

As part of this process, we were required to consult with parents, the local community, partners and key stakeholders to seek feedback. We were delighted to receive positive responses during that consultation. Following a review of the application process, we decided to place the application on hold while awaiting our Ofsted inspection. After the inspection in July 2025, Cottons Farm was graded Good in all areas.

We are now revisiting the application with the intention of submitting this in December 2025 with a view to implement from 1^st February 2026. Before doing so, we would like to invite you to provide any further feedback for us to consider.

The number of places and offer within the proposal remains unchanged from the original consultation document.  

If you have any questions or would like to comment on the proposal, then please the contact the Director of Education for the Harmony Trust Ltd using the following methods: 

• In writing to Mrs J Hughes, Director of Education, The Harmony Trust Ltd, Cottons Farm Primary Academy, Sheridan Street, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 9HG
• or by email to info@theharmonytrust.org 

As the original consultation process has been completed, this feedback period will be shorter. Please submit any comments by 5pm on Monday, 8th December 2025.

Yours Sincerely

Jessica Hughes

Director of Education

The Harmony Trust

ORIGINAL CONSULTATION DOCUMENT 

CONSULTATION DOCUMENT 

Consultation on a proposed implementation of an Integrated Resource Unit for pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) at:

• Alvaston Junior Academy, Elvaston Lane, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 0PU from November 2025
• Ash Croft Primary Academy, Deepdale Lane, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 3HF from November 2025
• Cottons Farm Primary Academy, Sheridan Street, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 9HG from November 2025
• Lakeside Primary Academy, 877 London Road, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 8UY from November 2025

Background

The academies listed above are proposing to make an application to the Department for Education to make a change to the provision that the academies currently provide. The change is to implement an Inclusion Hub for pupils with SEND. Each Hub would provide additional places within the academies which would be commissioned and funded by the Local Authority. This would allow our academies to provide the right support for those pupils that need specialist provision.

The current pupil admission number (PAN) for each academy is:

• Alvaston Junior Academy - 90 children per year group
• Ash Croft Primary Academy - 40 children per year group
• Cottons Farm Primary Academy - 20 children per year group
• Lakeside Primary Academy - 90 children per year group

Under the proposals, these will remain unchanged. Additional places will be designated to the provision of pupils with SEND, including places for some of our existing pupils.  The proposed change would be to offer additional SEND places in a mainstream school, which is known as additional resource provision. 

Specific Proposal

The academies are proposing that that there are additional places in addition to the existing PAN as detailed below which will specifically be for the Additional Resource Provision.

• Alvaston Junior Academy - 12 places
• Ash Croft Primary Academy – 8 places (plus 8 more places in September 2025)
• Cottons Farm Primary Academy - 12 places
• Lakeside Primary Academy – up to 20 places (8 in Early Years and 12 across KS1/2)

As the Local Authority determine the EHC admissions this will have no impact on the admissions arrangements.

The academies provide support to our current SEND pupils using existing funding through the academies Inclusion Hubs.  The benefits of securing the funding and implementing the proposed change is that the academies will receive full funding for the places available to support the development of the service provided, creating further strong links between families, the community, and the schools and improved continuity of SEND educational provision resulting in better outcomes for the children.

The Local Authority support the academies, they provide funding to meet the need in the local community, alongside supporting our future pupils and their families to access SEND provision in mainstream school settings for the number of places outlined in this proposal. 

Factors that have been considered by the academies in deciding to consult on this proposal include:

• Providing choice for parents of pupils with SEND, allowing them to access places in their local communities
• The continued ability of the academies to provide specific support to SEND pupils
• The provision of the most appropriate learning environment for all pupils thus facilitating continuing academy improvement and allow them to deliver high quality educational outcomes for the pupils
• Future resource planning and management including financial impact on staffing

Requirements for notification and publication

The proposed change requires an application to be submitted by The Harmony Trust to the Department for Education and is considered a significant change.  In line with the ‘Making a significant change to an open academy’ guidance, published by the Department for Education, we are required to carry out a consultation on the proposal for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Who is being consulted?

During this statutory consultation we want to consult with as many stakeholders as possible including:

• The Local Authority
• Parents of children who attend the affected academies
• Parents in the area
• Primary and special schools in the area
• Anyone else who has an interest in the proposed changes

Timetable for the Consultation Period

Monday 14^th October 2024 - Consultation period begins

Tuesday 12^th November 2024 5pm - Consultation period ends

Wednesday 13^th November 2024 – The Harmony Trust consider all responses

When would the changes come into effect?

If approved, the arrangements would be introduced from November 2025.

How to respond

This consultation will run until 5pm on Tuesday 12^th November 2024. You are invited to submit queries or comments using the following methods: 

• In writing to marked for the attention of Ms J Hainsworth, Director of Education, The Harmony Trust Ltd using the academy address listed at the beginning of this document that your comments are referring to
• or by email to info@theharmonytrust.org

Please mark the subject “Primary SEND Integrated Resource Unit Consultation” followed by the academy name.

Following the consultation period, the Trust will consider all comments received and include these in the application to be submitted to the Department for Education for the significant change application.