Cambridgeshire Local Authority commissions several mainstream schools and academies to provide Enhanced Resource Bases (ERBs) to support children and young people with the highest level of special educational need in mainstream education across Cambridgeshire.

The mainstream school employs specialist staff to oversee and deliver the Enhanced Resource Provision. The ERB staff work in partnership with parent carers and the mainstream school workforce. Some ERBs require children and young people who attend to have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) where their main area of need matches the specialism of the ERB, for example autism.

If you would like to know more about your child’s suitability and eligibility for such provision, please discuss this with your child’s Statutory Assessment Team Casework Officer named on their Education Health and Care Plan and/or their school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).

More information on each mainstream school with ERB: 

• Colville Primary School Speech and Language Centre
• Comberton Village College Autism Cabin
• Gamlingay Primary School Autism Cabin
• Impington Village College Enhanced Resource Provision
• Melbourn Village College Autism Cabin
• Sir Harry Smith Community College Enhanced Resource Centre
• Spring Meadow Infant Assessment Centre
• The Cooper Centre at Thomas Clarkson Academy 
• St Peters School Autism Cabin
• Witchford Village College Autism Cabin

In addition, the Local Authority manages two centres for D/deaf children and young people. Both centres are situated within mainstream schools but are staffed by the Local Authority D/deaf Specialist Team.

• Mayfield Primary School Local Authority D/deaf primary school age provision
• Cottenham Village College Local Authority D/deaf secondary school age provision

To find out about eligibility please speak with your D/deaf specialist teacher named on your child’s Education Health and Care Plan.

In 2024, subject to consultation and agreement from the DfE, we will be opening two new ERBs for children age 5-11 with SEMH needs. The ERBs will be in Cambridge city and St Neots. Each ERB will have space for 10 children. The places at the primary ERBs are for children who are struggling at mainstream but who may not require a place in a specialist provision. They will spend some time in a small group and sometime in mainstream classes. Places are allocated by a placement panel; parents should contact their case work officer if they feel this is suitable for their child.

The Local authority will be exploring more ERBs for SEMH needs and for children with Autism.

Cambridgeshire’s Area Special Schools provide education for children and young people whose severe and complex needs or profound and multiple learning difficulties are outside the range that a mainstream school is reasonably expected to provide.

To find out more about the suitability of a Special School education for your child and the eligibility criteria, please talk with your child’s Statutory Assessment Casework Officer named on their Education, Health and Care Assessment or Plan. More information on each Area Special School can be found by clicking the link to the Cambridgeshire Directory.

• Castle School
• Granta School
• Highfield Ely Academy
• Highfield Littleport Academy
• Martin Bacon Academy
• Meadowgate Academy
• Samuel Pepys School
• Spring Common Academy
• Prestley Wood Academy (due to open in September 2024)

In addition to Area Special Schools, Cambridgeshire Local Authority has Special Schools that specifically address the needs of children and young people whose severe and complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs are outside the range that a mainstream school is reasonably expected to provide.

To find out more about the suitability of a Social Emotional and Mental Health Special School for your child and the eligibility criteria please talk with your child’s Statutory Assessment Casework Officer named on their Education, Health and Care Assessment or Plan. More information on each Special School  for Social, Emotional and Mental Health can be found by clicking the link to the Cambridgeshire Directory.

• The Harbour School
• The Centre School
• Riverside Meadows Academy (St Neots and Wisbech Green)

The Pilgrim Pathway School provides education for children and young people with the highest level of complex physical and/or mental health needs at Tier 4 Health. There are five centres under the Pilgrim Pathway School, each addressing specific educational needs. For more information, please speak to the Health professionals supporting your child and family named in their Educational Health and Care Plan or Medical Care Plan. More information on each  five centres can be found by clicking the link to the Cambridgeshire Directory.

• Addenbrooke’s Hospital: Inpatient Education
• Darwin Centre: Mental Health
• The Croft School: Educational engagement
• Phoenix Learning Centre: Complex eating disorders
• Brainbow: Rehabilitation for children and young people with brain tumours

While we recognise that it is usually in the child’s best interest to be educated near to home and alongside their local peers, in a small number of cases, it may not be possible to meet a child's special educational and care needs within Local Authority educational provision. In these cases, after discussion with your Statutory Assessment Team Casework Officer named on your child’s Education, Health, and Care Plan, it may be appropriate for a referral for an Independent Special School placement. Decisions are made using agreed and fair criteria at the Placement and Provision Panel (PPP). More information on the Placement and Provision Panel (PPP) can be found on the Applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan page. 

The Government produces lists of approved independent educational institutions, independent special schools, and post-16 institutions (Section 41 Secretary Approved List) and non-maintained special schools and independent schools. 

Telephone: 01480 372699

If the number is engaged, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

Email: SAT@cambridgeshire.gov.uk