Bridging the Gap
In Scarborough, there is a major gap in provision for neurodivergent children who don’t have complex learning needs but who cannot thrive in mainstream schools.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Scarborough faces a sharp contrast of stunning landscapes and serious social challenges.
Over 40% of Scarborough’s neighbourhoods lie within the top 20% most deprived areas in England, with pockets among the very worst nationally.
In 2022-23, there were 1,123 requests for EHCPs in the Scarborough & Whitby area - a 40% increase from the previous year and that number continues to grow. Regardless of these figures, there are currently no Targeted Mainstream Provision (TMP) hubs in Scarborough Schools, despite statutory duties.
Existing special schools within reasonable travelling distance focus on children with complex learning needs or SEMH ( Social, Emotional, and Mental Health challenges ) and are therefore not suitable for neurodivergent children without learning disabilities, who can’t thrive in mainstream school.
Scarborough children often have to travel 35–50 miles each way, daily to schools in Thirsk, Ripon, or Harrogate to access full time education that offers a broad curriculum with tailored learning and accessible environments. These long journeys undermine attendance, wellbeing, family stability and restrict extra-curricular activities, leaving already challenged children at a grave disadvantage.
A study published in The Guardian Newspaper (March 2024) highlighted that over a quarter of autistic pupils in England - around 51,000 out of 200,000 - are persistently absent from school, unable to cope with mainstream environments.
Whilst mainstream schools can be overwhelming and traumatic, we see that most specialist settings are designed for children with complex needs, and so do not provide access to a full, age-appropriate curriculum or the kind of extra-curricular and social activities offered in mainstream schools. This creates a significant gap in provision, leaving bright, neurodiverse children (some of whom are exceptionally gifted) without access to the education and associated benefits they have a right to - and that their neurotypical peers enjoy everyday.
For children in Scarborough able to study at age-related levels and succeed in formal examinations, there are no full time special school options. Instead, they face long, daily journeys to schools out of the area or are forced to opt for home schooling, often through lack of support and sheer exhaustion. For most, neither of these options are viable - but there is no other choice.
The result is a growing population of young people excluded from education and social interaction, not because of their ability, but because of an education system that lacks the flexibility to meet their needs.
This problem was described in a research paper published in the SAGE Journals (2023) as a worrying trend and…
“a major societal problem, with a range of potential adverse long-term consequences.”
No School to Go to!
“Our 7 -year-old son is very bright and capable, but he has been out of school for over two years. The Local Authority hasn’t been able to find a place for him in Scarborough, outside of mainstream environments, that can provide him with more than 4 hours of education a week”
Parent of child with ADHD and Autism.
This not only represents a failure to deliver the education children are legally entitled to, but also highlights a much deeper and serious issue of inequality and exclusion.
Havenswood Trust is committed to addressing inequality by creating a tailored, academically rigorous and emotionally supportive environment—providing the all round care and education that these children both need and deserve.