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About the programme

Specialist Resource Bases are additionally funded provisions within a maintained mainstream school/academy that have reduced class sizes, additional staffing, tailored environments and access to additional resources and expertise.

They are funded from Norfolk's High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant. They are registered SEN units that form a constituent part of the school/academy.

There are five distinct specialisms within the programme catering for different areas of need with different operating models:

  • Autism bases
  • Deaf bases
  • Learning and Cognition Needs (LCN) bases
  • Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) bases     
  • Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) bases

All individual bases form part of the Specialist Resource Base programme in Norfolk and are a key component of Norfolk's SEND Local Offer and of mainstream inclusion support to children, families and the school system.

Autism and Deaf Resource bases offer long term permanent places whereby children join the roll of the school that the base is part of. These provisions will be accessed via county admissions processes, with the local authority retaining the placement decision-making responsibility.

Learning and Cognition Needs (LCN), Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) bases offer short term support whereby children remain on the roll of the home school and attend the SRB on a four day SRB, one day home school model. Placements will also be accessed via the county admissions process, with a panel of relevant professionals having delegated decision-making responsibility.

LCN outreach support (PDF) [146KB] to primary phase in home school, whole schools and cluster development.

SLCN outreach support (PDF) [288KB] to primary phase in home school, whole school and cluster development.

Leaflets for professionals detailing each specialism's offer are available to download from this page. 

Dyslexia Outreach Service (opens new window) provides a wide range of services including pupil support plans, diagnostic assessments, exam access arrangements, training and development opportunities.