Birkby Junior School

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 theirneeds 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 the EHCP team (the team that manages EHCPs previously known as SENDACT).
Their role is to offer help and advice for the schools so they can meet the needs of young people.
Clusters are organised firstly into geographical areas and then into numbered clusters

Birkby Junior School are part of Cluster 14

Other schools in Cluster 14 are: 

Birkby Infant and Nursery School

Christchurch Academy 

St Thomas CE Primary School 

Ashbrow School 

St Patricks Catholic Primary Academy 

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary Academy 

Fixby Junior and Infant School 

Brambles Primary Academy 

North Huddersfield Trust School

All Saints Catholic College