About the programme

Specialist Resource Bases (SRBs) are designated by the Department for Education as specialist provisions within a maintained mainstream school/academy, and are additionally funded by the Local Authority. SRBs have smaller class sizes, additional staffing, tailored environments and access to additional resources and expertise.

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

Autism bases
Specialist Hubs of Inclusive Practice (SHIPs)
Deaf bases
Learning and Cognition Needs (LCN) bases
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) bases
Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) bases

SHIPs, Autism bases and Deaf Resource bases offer long term permanent places and as a result children join the roll of the school that has the base. Permanent bases support students to access the mainstream environment as much as possible. SRBs including SHIPs are accessed via the local authority (LA) county admissions processes, with the LA retaining the placement decision-making responsibility. Students may have an EHCP but this is not essential.

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 for up to four days a week. Placements will also be processed via the LA county admissions process, with a panel of relevant professionals having delegated decision-making responsibility. Please note that the SLCN base at Heartsease Primary Academy will operate a longer school day than most Norfolk schools, and school holiday dates may differ.

LCN outreach support (PDF, 146 KB) to primary phase in home school, whole schools 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.