SSU Admission Details

What is Gorseland Primary School’s Specialist Support Unit?


The Local Authority have commissioned two specialist units at Gorseland Primary School:

  • Reception / Key Stage One - Specialist Unit

  • Key Stage Two - Cognition and Learning Unit
    (Cognition and Learning should be the main area of need on the child's EHCP.)


The aim of these units is to enable pupils with moderate learning difficulties to access specialist teaching and learning in small-groups with regular access to mainstream facilities and activities. A Communication and Interaction Unit may be more suitable for your child if Cognition and Learning is not their main area of need. Other specialist units in Suffolk are signposted below.


How can pupils gain access to Gorseland’s Specialist Support Unit?


  • Placements in the Specialist Units are made by the Local Authority. For a child to gain a place they must (in most instances) have an Education, Health and Care Plan.

  • To gain access to a Specialist Unit, parents can name the setting during the assessment for an EHCP or request a change of setting during an Annual Review. If your preferred specialist setting is Gorseland, then please state ‘Gorseland Specialist Support Unit’ or 'Gorseland Cognition and Learning Unit' instead of ‘Gorseland Primary School’. The admissions panel will discuss suitability, send out consultations and make a decision.

  • Please note that admission into our R/KS1 Specialist Unit does not mean automatic progression into our KS2 Cognition and Learning unit.

  • If your child is offered a place then you will be contacted by the Local Authority. If you choose to accept the offered place, we will contact you to arrange a robust transition programme for your child.

Click here to view the Local Authority education page including the other specialist provision options in Suffolk.