Issue - meetings

The number of children and young people assessed as requiring a place at a specialist education provision in the BCP area has increased in recent years and this has increased expenditure on high needs. As part of the Council’s strategy to address growth and associated financial pressure, work is underway to implement a programme of expansion of specialist school places across the conurbation which will help provide local access to cost effective places and a reduction in the Council’s reliance on costly independent placements. As one in a number of schemes currently in development, it is planned that Broadstone Middle School run by the Castleman Academy Trust will expand the existing resource base to provide an additional eight resource base places for children with autism spectrum condition (ASC). The proposal is for the expansion of the existing resource base known locally as The Link, from 15 places to 23 places from September 2022.

This the recommended option and for which an approval for a budget as contained in Appendix 1 (Exempt) is necessary to provide an additional 8 places from September 2022. A temporary change in age range will provide continuity for existing children on roll. From September 2023/24 the resource base will offer a total of 23 places for children aged 9-13 years old.  The approved capital programme includes funding for the proposed scheme as part of a programme of SEND place expansion.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the capital budget as set out in the amended Appendix 1 (Exempt) to expand the existing resource base provision at Broadstone Middle School. The funding will provide a new Learning Resource Centre co-located on the existing school site.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Council Priorities and Delivery

Reason

To review the capital funding necessary to provide eight additional places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the local area by expanding the resource base at Broadstone Middle School from 15 places to 23 places from September 2022. The additional places will be accommodated in a new Learning Resource Centre co-located on the existing school site. Places will be allocated by the Council under the SEND code of practice to children with an EHCP with ASC and a secondary need of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) or social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, specifically school phobia/anxiety. This forms part of the Council’s high-profile priority to expand the availability of specialist school places as part of the work necessary to achieve savings as part of the Council’s High Needs Block Deficit Recovery Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Council Priorities and Delivery presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the number of children and young people assessed as requiring a place at a specialist education provision in the BCP area has increased in recent years and this has increased expenditure on high needs.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that as part of the Council’s strategy to address growth and associated financial pressure, work is underway to implement a programme of expansion of specialist school places across the conurbation which will help provide local access to cost effective places and a reduction in the Council’s reliance on costly independent placements.

Cabinet was further informed that as one in a number of schemes currently in development, it is planned that Broadstone Middle School run by the Castleman Academy Trust will expand the existing resource base to provide an additional eight resource base places for children with autism spectrum condition (ASC), and that the proposal is for the expansion of the existing resource base known locally as The Link, from 15 places to 23 places from September 2022.

Cabinet was advised that this is the recommended option and for which an approval for a budget as contained in Appendix 1 (Exempt) is necessary toprovide an additional 8 places from September 2022, and that a temporary change in age range will provide continuity for existing children on roll, and from September 2023/24 the resource base will offer a total of 23 places for children aged 9-13 years old. 

In addition Cabinet was informed that the approved capital programme includes funding for the proposed scheme as part of a programme of SEND place expansion.

The Chairman of the Childrens Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee addressed the Cabinet advising that members had been supportive of the report at the recent meeting of the Childrens Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the capital budget as set out in the amended Appendix 1 (Exempt) to expand the existing resource base provision at Broadstone Middle School. The funding will provide a new Learning Resource Centre co-located on the existing school site.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Priorities and Delivery

Councillor M White left the meeting following the conclusion of this item.