SECONDARY school pupils with mental health needs could benefit from a specialist unit, under plans put forward by Tudor Grange Academy.
Solihull Council is consulting with Tudor Grange Academy Solihull on setting up the centre for children with social, emotional or mental health needs at its Dingle Lane campus.
The unit would give pupils from across the borough, who are suffering from mental health problems, specialist support to return to school.
It would initially be set up for children in years seven to nine.
Tudor Grange Academy already runs a centre for primary-age children with mental health issues at Yew Tree Primary, called Cedars.
In proposals for the council’s education portfolio holder Coun Ken Meeson, school place planner Ann Pearson said: “Admission to the provision will be through referral by schools and will be considered by a panel with clear criteria for admission.
“Placements are intended to be for one or two terms depending on the needs of the student. Students will remain on the roll of their home school and will have a supported transition back to their home school at the end of the placement.”
Ms Pearson added that children would not need an education health care plan to attend the unit.
Responding to the consultation, a spokesman for Tudor Grange Academy Solihull said: “We will be working closely with the educational psychologists in the borough to ensure that students are well supported at the provision and during their transition back to a home school.
“If a student is unable to transition back into their home school then we will work with the local authority to place them in more appropriate long term provision.
“As part of our agreement with the local authority there will be a commitment to provide more suitable, long term provision for students who can’t reintegrate
back to their home school.
“The council and Tudor Grange Academy will need to review the effectiveness of the new provision at Tudor Grange Academy Solihull, to see how effectively it is working.”
