Issue - meetings

To agree the proposal for a new specialist centre to be developed at Worplesdon Primary School. This would create places for primary pupils with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and who have Communication and Interaction Needs (COIN) in Surrey. The specialist centre will be based at Worplesdon Primary School and operated in partnership with Freemantles School.

NB Part 2 Annex at Item 24.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1.    That the proposal to build a specialist centre at Worplesdon Primary School in partnership with Freemantles School, be agreed in principle, and the project to proceed subject to a full public consultation and statutory notices was approved.

2.    That the funding for this project be allocated from the Special Education Needs & Disabilities Capital Grant of £10.7m and the scheme be added to the Capital programme, as detailed in the Part 2 annex of the submitted report.

Reason for Decision:

A new specialist provision centre at Worplesdon Primary School would meet the demand for additional places for children and young people with communication and interaction needs (COIN). This is the first centre in Surrey that is being developed in partnership between a special school and a mainstream primary school. The two schools working in partnership ensure pupils benefit from the expertise of a special school as well as inclusion in a mainstream primary school.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for All-Age Learning detailed the proposals for a new specialist centre to be developed at Worplesdon Primary School in partnership with Freemantles School. This would meet place requirements and the need for specialist placements. The specialist centre would be based at Worplesdon Primary School and operated in partnership with Freemantles School.  It would be the first centre in Surrey that was being developed in partnership between a special school and a mainstream primary school.

Several Members expressed support for  this proposal and for bringing it into mainstream education.  They gave praise and thanks to council officers, the Cabinet Member and to Freemantles.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the proposal to build a specialist centre at Worplesdon Primary School in partnership with Freemantles School, be agreed in principle, and the project to proceed subject to a full public consultation and statutory notices was approved.

2.    That the funding for this project be allocated from the Special Education Needs & Disabilities Capital Grant of £10.7m and the scheme be added to the Capital programme, as detailed in the Part 2 annex of the submitted report.

Reason for Decision:

A new specialist provision centre at Worplesdon Primary School would meet the demand for additional places for children and young people with communication and interaction needs (COIN). This is the first centre in Surrey that is being developed in partnership between a special school and a mainstream primary school. The two schools working in partnership ensure pupils benefit from the expertise of a special school as well as inclusion in a mainstream primary school.

The decision was unanimous.