The new highly anticipated centre for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities is now open for business.
Based at the Eric Manns building, the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Hub offers recreational activities for children and young people, as well as support for families and carers.
The space has been designed with modern activity rooms, a specialist changing room and calm sensory spaces.
Support and activities at the Hub will be run by the Rotherham Parents Forum Limited, which is made of Rotheram Parent Carers Forum and the Autism and ADHD Peer Support Service. RPFL will be providing specialist support tailored to the needs of each individual parent, carer, child, young person and adult.
Jayne Fitzgerald, Strategic Director of Rotherham Parent Forum Limited said: “The new SEND Hub provides a welcoming and inclusive space for Rotherham residents with SEND and neurodivergent people of all ages. The voices and lived experiences we hear from families every day shape our work and help drive meaningful change.
“Working in partnership with the Council, health services and other local partners, we are committed to building a more inclusive Rotherham where what matters most to SEND families and Neurodivergent people leads to real improvements in the services they access and the opportunities open to them.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing the SEND Hub together, and all those working alongside the team at RPFL to deliver vital activities and co-create this space for our community across the borough.”
Rotherham Council’s Leader, Cllr Chris Read, who opened the SEND Hub, said: “We want every child and young person in Rotherham to achieve their aspirations. Different families need different types of support to ensure that children can thrive and the Forum do invaluable work to ensure their voices are heard and the system works better as a result. That’s why we made a commitment to the new SEND hub, backed by an investment from the Council, giving the team a new home and the opportunity to help even more families, and it’s great to see that commitment coming to fruition.”
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Service, Cllr Victoria Cusworth, said: “Rotherham Parent Carers Forum Limited plays a huge role in making services more accessible for children with SEND and their families. In addition to the activities they provide for children, young people and adults with SEND, they make sure that the voices of children and families inform Council decision making.
“This SEND Hub is evidence that the Council listens, as families told the Parent Carer Forum that they would like a town centre SEND hub and we are very pleased that we have been able to make it happen.”
Yesterday, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet heard an update on the Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2029 which outlined ambitions for the next three years to ensure more young people are able to be educated in their communities with their peers and ensure that the network of local specialist provision is utilised to its fullest.
Councillors are also considering a proposal in the Council’s draft budget to increase the availability of Educational Psychology services to support children who may have special educational needs.
Further information about the support and services available for children and young people with SEND is available on the SEND Local Offer page at www.rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk.
