Notice of significant change - Inclusion Hub at Ash Croft

                                                                                                                                               14^th March 2025

Dear Partners and Stakeholders,

In October 2024 we wrote to you in order to consult on the development of resourced provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) within the Harmony Trust. The original consultation is included below.

We are now writing to you regarding an amendment to that proposal in relation to Ash Croft Primary Academy.

Since our original application, we have established an 8 place Inclusion Hub at Ash Croft commissioned by Derby City Council. We have also finalised plans for our new modular building and agreed timescales with our contractor and hope to have our build complete ready for September 2025.

We have made an application to the Department for Education requesting a permanent change to the number of places at the academy for pupils with SEND, who will be educated in an additionally resourced provision. 

We are making an amendment to our original ‘Significant Change’ application to the Department for Education and as a result need to consult again on a change of date to that originally proposed.

The amended proposal for Ash Croft Primary Academy is:

• 8 places from 1^st May 2025
• 8 places from 1^st September 2025

If you have any questions or would like to comment on these changes in relation to Ash Croft Primary Academy, then please the contact the Director of Education for the Harmony Trust Ltd using the following methods: 

• In writing to Mrs J Hainsworth, Director of Education, The Harmony Trust Ltd, Ash Croft Primary Academy, Deepdale Lane, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 3HF
• or by email to info@theharmonytrust.org 

This consultation will close at 5pm on Friday 4^th April 2025.

Yours Sincerely

Jessica Hainsworth

Director of Education

The Harmony Trust

CONSULTATION DOCUMENT 

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

Introduction 

The academies listed above proposing to make an application to the Department for Education to make a change in 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.  

As part of the consultation process and as part of the legal requirements, we are writing to parents and other key stakeholders to seek feedback regarding the proposed changes. The consultation process will run from Monday 14^th October 2024 to 5pm Tuesday 12^th November 2024. Further details of the proposal is provided on the academy and the Harmony Trust website.  The Harmony Trust will then consider comments received during the consultation period.  

What is being proposed? 

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

What do I need to do? 

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 Miss 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

Following the consultation period, the responses will be analysed carefully before any decisions are made by The Harmony Trust, regarding the proposals.  

Yours Sincerely, 

Jessica Hainsworth 

Director of Education