Accessibility Statement

Cluster Working in Kirklees

Jo Sanders explains more about cluster working in Kirklees

Cluster Working – what are we trying to achieve?  

We are passionate about children and young people in Kirklees and we want them to be the best they can be.  

We want to work together with schools, the council and families to identify the needs of young people. We want to help schools share their knowledge and be as creative as possible when supporting young people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). 

We have developed a new approach called cluster working. This is where mainstream schools work together in small groups or clusters. This will give schools more flexibility to meet the needs of young people. This will help them to get the right support at the right time and in the right place. Working in this way will help schools to support each other by sharing how to do things in the best way possible.   

To do this, we are changing the way funding is provided to support young people with additional needs in a way which increase the number of those who may receive support. This means that more young people with additional needs can benefit from funding, not those solely with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).

Clusters – what are they?  

A cluster is a group of mainstream schools that work together to share resources and expertise. 

The new approach will see mainstream schools grouped into clusters.  There are 17 clusters in Kirklees which are based on location, covering all the mainstream schools in the district.  This means that schools in a cluster are all close to each other. 

Clusters started in September 2024 in Kirklees and will keep developing. They will help schools work together so more young people can get the support they need quickly. This will make things better for families and help schools share resources and expertise. 

We have worked closely with schools and early years providers.  We have also been supported by our local parent & carer group (PCAN) to develop cluster working. We have also looked at other councils that work in this way to learn from them. 

What will it mean for young people?  

Schools will work together to share resources, expertise and good practice. This will be used to support your young person as early as possible to ensure their needs are being met so that they are able to make progress and achieve their best possible outcomes. 

We want to ensure we use our resources and expertise to coordinate support around the needs of young people and so each cluster of schools will have access to a team of professionals, for example from Early Support and Educational Psychology. 

We believe in nurturing an inclusive school system which meet the needs of young people in a range of different ways. Your child will not need to have an Education Health Care & Plan (EHCP) to benefit from the new approach.  

We all want the best for all young people. Putting support and help in as early as possible will mean young people get support at the right time to make progress and achieve their best. 

What it definitely does not mean 

Our cluster working does not affect your right to request an EHCP, nor the right to have one if needed. For those young people who currently have an EHCP, these will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure they continue to meet need. 

This way of working helps us to identify and secure support flexibly to make sure that young people can have their needs met in the most appropriate way. 

The council will provide High Needs funding to each cluster so that schools can use the money at the earliest opportunity and can plan how they use it within the cluster.  The amount of money will be based on the number and level of need of the young people in the cluster.  

Clusters will meet together at least every half term. At the cluster meetings, discussions are held about how support can be put in place for young people both with and without an EHCP.  Some support will not necessarily need funding, such as if one school is able to share some help or if advice is given by a professional, like a specialist teacher.  Young people without an EHCP are able to be included in these discussions because schools can seek advice and support for needs as they emerge.   

We want to include both groups so that we can ensure that all the funding in the system for SEND is being spent as effectively as it can be, and that young people get the best possible support at the earliest opportunity. This also means that we can ensure there is fairness and equity across the borough in relation to the support offered, regardless of which school your young person attends.  

There will be range of people who can offer help and support in the cluster meetings who are not from schools. This is called the Team around the Cluster and includes Educational Psychology, Specialist Teachers, Early Support and SENDACT (the team that manages EHCPs).  

Their role is to offer help and advice for the schools so they can meet the needs of young people. 

Clusters started working together from September 2024. We will make sure that families are aware of what is happening with clusters and are involved as they develop. 

If you have any questions, please first speak to your school. The Local Offer has lots of information about school support and more information about clusters will be added over time. 

Local Offer - Getting support in educational settings (opens link in same window)

Clusters are organised firstly into geographical areas and then into numbered clusters, details of each school can be found in the drop down box below.

The areas are:

A - Batley and Spen
B - Dewsbury and Mirfield
C - Huddersfield
D - The Valleys

 

Area A - Batley and Spen clusters

CLUSTER 1
Batley Girls High School Secondary (ACAD)
Hyrstmount Junior School Primary
Manorfield I&N Primary (ACAD)
Park Road J I & N School Primary
Purlwell I & N School Primary
St Mary's Catholic Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Staincliffe CE (VC) Junior School Primary
Upper Batley High School Secondary (ACAD)
Warwick Road Primary School Primary
No of schools 9

CLUSTER 2
BBG Academy Secondary (ACAD)
Birkenshaw C.E. (C) Primary School Primary
Birstall Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
East Bierley CE (VC) Primary School Primary
Fieldhead Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Gomersal Primary School Primary
Gomersal St Mary’s CE (C) Primary School Primary
St Patrick's Catholic Primary (Dewsbury) Primary (ACAD)
St Peter's CE (VA) Junior, Infant and EY Primary
Windmill CE(VC) Primary School ARP School Primary
No of schools 10

CLUSTER 3
Heaton Avenue, A SHARE Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
High Bank J I & N School Primary
Hightown J I & N School Primary
Howard Park Community School Primary
Scholes Village Primary School Primary
Whitcliffe Mount, A SHARE Academy Secondary (ACAD)
Whitechapel Church of England Primary Primary
No of schools 7

CLUSTER 6
Co-op Academy Smithies Moor Primary (ACAD)
Hartshead J & I School Primary
Headlands CE (VC) J I & N School Primary
Heckmondwike Grammar School Secondary (ACAD)
Heckmondwike Primary School Primary (ACAD)
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Littletown J I & N School Primary
Millbridge, A SHARE Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Norristhorpe J & I School Primary
Roberttown CE (VC) J & I School Primary
Spen Valley High School Secondary
No of schools 11

CLUSTER 17
Batley Grammar School Cross Phase (ACAD)
Batley Parish CE (VA) J I & N School Primary (ACAD)
Carlinghow Academy ARP School Primary (ACAD)
Field Lane Junior Infant & Nursery School Primary (ACAD)
Healey Junior Infant and Nursery School Primary (ACAD)
Lydgate J & I School Primary
Mill Lane Primary School Primary
No of schools 7

Area B - Dewsbury & Mirfield clusters

CLUSTER 5
Battyeford CE(VC) Primary School Primary
Castle Hall Academy Secondary (ACAD)
Crossley Fields J & I School Primary
Crowlees CE (VC) J & I School Primary
Hopton Primary School Primary
Old Bank Academy ARP School Primary (ACAD)
The Mirfield Free Grammar Secondary (ACAD)
No of schools 7

CLUSTER 8
Bywell CE (VC) Junior School Primary
Earlsheaton Infant School Primary
Eastborough J I & N School Primary (ACAD)
Hanging Heaton CE (VC) J & I School Primary
Manor Croft Academy Secondary (ACAD)
Orchard Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Shaw Cross I & N School Primary
No of schools 7

CLUSTER 9
Boothroyd Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Carlton J & I School Primary
Diamond Wood Community Academy Primary (ACAD)
Flatts Nursery School Nursery
Ravensthorpe CE (VC) Junior School Primary
St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy Secondary (ACAD)
St John’s CE(C) Primary School Primary
St Joseph's Catholic Primary (Dewsbury) Primary (ACAD)
St Paulinus Catholic Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Westborough High School Secondary
Westmoor Primary School Primary
No of schools 11

CLUSTER 10
Headfield CE (C) Junior School Primary
Overthorpe CofE Academy Primary (ACAD)
Pentland I & N School Primary
Savile Town CE (VC) I & N School Primary
Thornhill Community Academy ARP School Secondary (ACAD)
Thornhill J & I School Primary (ACAD)
Thornhill Lees CE (VC) I & N School Primary
No of schools 7

Cluster C - Huddersfield clusters

CLUSTER 14
All Saints Catholic College Secondary
Ashbrow School Primary
Birkby I & N School Primary
Birkby Junior School Primary
Christ Church CE Academy Primary (ACAD)
Fixby J & I School Primary
North Huddersfield Trust School Secondary
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
St Patrick's Catholic Primary (Huddersfield) Primary (ACAD)
St Thomas CE (VC) Primary School Primary
No of schools 10

CLUSTER 15
All Hallows’ CE(VA) Primary School Primary
Dalton School ARP School Primary
Grange Moor Primary School Primary
Hill View Academy Primary (ACAD)
King James's School Secondary (ACAD)
Kirkheaton Primary School Primary (ACAD)
Lepton CE Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Moldgreen Community Primary School Primary
Netherhall Learning Campus High ARP School Secondary
Netherhall Learning Campus Junior ARP School Primary
Netherhall St James Infant & Nursery ARP School Primary
Rowley Lane J I & N School Primary
St Joseph's Catholic Primary Huddersfield Primary (ACAD)
No of schools 13

CLUSTER 16
Beaumont Primary Academy ARP School Primary (ACAD)
Berry Brow I & N School Primary
Hillside Primary School Primary (ACAD)
Lowerhouses CE (VC) J I & EY School ARP School Primary (ACAD)
Moor End Academy ARP School Secondary (ACAD)
Mount Pleasant Primary School Primary
Newsome Academy ARP School Secondary (ACAD)
Newsome Junior School Primary
Oak CofE Primary School Primary
No of schools 9

CLUSTER 18
Brambles Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Lindley Church of England Infant School Primary (ACAD)
Lindley Junior School Primary (ACAD)
Moorlands Primary School Primary
Reinwood Community Junior School Primary
Reinwood I & N School Primary
Salendine Nook High School Academy Secondary (ACAD)
No of schools 7

Cluster D - The Valleys clusters

CLUSTER 4 & 11
Clough Head J & I School Primary
Colne Valley High School Secondary (ACAD)
Linthwaite Ardron CE (VA) J & I School Primary
Linthwaite Clough J I & Early Years Unit Primary
Marsden I & N School Primary
Marsden Junior Primary (ACAD)
Nields J I & N School Primary
Slaithwaite CE (VC) J & I School Primary
Wellhouse J & I School Primary
Wilberlee J & I School Primary
Woodside Green, A SHARE Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Crow Lane Primary and Foundation Primary
Golcar J I & N School Primary
Paddock J I & N School Primary
Royds Hall, A Share Academy ARP School Secondary (ACAD)
Luck Lane, A SHARE Primary Academy Primary (ACAD)
Scapegoat Hill J & I School Primary
Spring Grove J I & N School Primary
St John's CE(VA) J & I School Primary
No of schools 19

CLUSTER 7
Birdsedge First School Primary (ACAD)
Cumberworth CE (VA) First School Primary
Denby First Primary
Denby Dale First & Nursery Primary
Emley First Primary
Farnley Tyas CE (VC) First School Primary
Flockton CE (VC) First School Primary
Highburton CE (VC) First Academy Primary (ACAD)
Kaye's Academy Primary (ACAD)
Kirkburton CE (VA) First School Primary
Kirkburton Middle School Middle (ACAD)
Scissett First Primary (ACAD)
Scissett Middle School Middle (ACAD)
Shelley College, A Share Academy Secondary (ACAD)
Shelley First School Primary (ACAD)
Shepley First School Primary
Skelmanthorpe Academy Primary (ACAD)
St Aidan's Church of England Academy Primary (ACAD)
Thurstonland Endowed (VC) First School Primary
No of schools 19

CLUSTER 12
Hade Edge J & I School Primary
Hepworth J & I School Primary
Hinchliffe Mill J & I School Primary
Holme J & I School Primary
Holmfirth High School Secondary
Holmfirth J I & N School Primary
Netherthong Primary School Primary
New Mill Infant School Primary (ACAD)
New Mill Junior School Primary (ACAD)
Scholes (Holmfirth) J & I School Primary (ACAD)
Upperthong J & I School Primary
No of schools 11

CLUSTER 13
Brockholes CE (VC) J & I School Primary
Helme Church of England Academy Primary (ACAD)
Honley CofE (VC) Junior, Infant and Nursery Primary
Honley High School ARP School Secondary (ACAD)
Meltham CE (VC) Primary School Primary
Meltham Moor Primary School Primary (ACAD)
Netherton I & N School Primary (ACAD)
South Crosland CE (VA) Junior School Primary
No of schools 8

 

Last updated: 10/09/2024