Issue - meetings

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information for the alteration set out in item 22 in Part 2 of this agenda, the business case for the provision of a new primary special school for pupils with Learning and Additional Needs be approved.

Reasons for Decisions:

The proposal supports the Authority’s statutory obligation to provide appropriate facilities for all SEND children who attend the special school.  A need has been identified for a countywide primary school and nursery for children with complex Learning and Additional Needs. The town of Leatherhead is a county central location for such a provision, allowing reasonable access for all.

[The decision on this item may be called in by either the Education and Skills Scrutiny Board or the Council Overview Board]

Presenting this report to Cabinet, the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Educational Achievement requested Cabinet approval for the business case for the alteration of the age range of West Hill School, from a 100 place 11 - 16 mixed special secondary school to a 112 place 5 - 11 mixed primary school, with an additional nursery providing seven full time equivalent places for those who had Learning and Additional Needs.

She said that she had approved the decision to alter the age range at this school in November 2014 at her individual decision making meeting and that these proposals would create much-needed primary places for children with SEN and reduce the numbers of these children being placed in schools within the Non-Maintained and Independent (NMI) sector.

She also referred to the consultation process, as detailed in the report, and also confirmed that the secondary aged pupils currently at West Hill School would remain there until their education at the school ended in Year 11.

Finally, she said that a full Equality Impact Assessment had been completed as part of the Learning Difficulties Review in 2012 and that no significant changes were required because the information was still relevant.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information for the alteration set out in item 22 in Part 2 of this agenda, the business case for the provision of a new primary special school for pupils with Learning and Additional Needs be approved.

Reasons for Decisions:

The proposal supports the Authority’s statutory obligation to provide appropriate facilities for all SEND children who attend the special school.  A need has been identified for a countywide primary school and nursery for children with complex Learning and Additional Needs. The town of Leatherhead is a county central location for such a provision, allowing reasonable access for all.