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New facility will 'offer lifeline to SEND pupils'

Naj Modak
BBC News
Hull City Council A woman with patterned dress, shoulder length brown hair and glasses sitting at a table with three school pupils wearing blue tops and another woman with brown hair tied back and a black top. They are in a classroom setting.Hull City Council
Up to 25 pupils aged 11 to 16 from the Rising Stars project will benefit from the expansion

A facility has opened to help support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Based at Francis Askew Primary School in Hull, it will be used by Rise Academy and will accommodate up to 25 pupils aged 11 to 16, according to the city council.

The Constellation Trust, which runs the academy, said the facility was set to transform opportunities for some of the region's most vulnerable learners.

According to the city council, the site would enable the school to meet the growing demand for SEND places in the area and "offer a lifeline to children who have struggled to thrive in mainstream settings".

Hull City Council A woman with patterned dress, shoulder length brown hair and glasses looking through a microscope with a boy, who is wearing a blue polo shirt, short brown hair and glasses.Hull City Council
Hull City Council believes the new facility will enable the school to help meet the growing demand for SEND places in the area

The site, which includes four classrooms, a science room, sensory room, parents' room and an extended dining area, would allow staff to better understand those that have had a difficult start and to help them flourish, the school added.

The project is an expansion of Rising Stars, part of Rise Academy, primarily for students with cognition, learning, speech, language and communication needs. They may also have sensory, or other physical impairments or disabilities.

Councillor Linda Tock, portfolio holder for children's services at the council, said: "Witnessing the children in this environment and how much it is benefitting them is fantastic to see.

"The enthusiasm and passion from both staff and students shone throughout our visit."

Hull City Council A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and a headband and black top is using a microscope and looking at a young boy, who has short blonde hair, a grey hoody and dark trousers. He is stood next to a boy with short brown hair, blue top and dark trousers.Hull City Council
The facility will be used by Rise Academy and is based at Francis Askew Primary School

Philip Mountain Wade, project lead and executive head of alternative curriculum for the trust, said the council's investment had allowed them to focus on designing a learning environment that would nurture emotional wellbeing, build resilience and unlock potential.

Dr Cathy Taylor, CEO of the trust, added: "This is not just about a building, it's about creating a place where children can find safety, rebuild confidence and feel hope for the future."

The project, which refurbished and repurposed a disused area of an existing building, was backed by the council's Children, Young People and Family Services' High Needs fund.

Work began in December 2024 and was completed in spring.

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