Issue - meetings

Purpose

1.1            This report set out the findings from the pre-statutory consultation in relation to a proposal to close Willows Centre for Children but to continue to deliver the specialist provision provided by Willows as part of an expanded Cliffdale Primary Academy.  The consultation was undertaken between 15^th October 2018 and 10^th December 2018.

1.2            This report carefully considers the responses, and determines whether the proposal should be amended.

1.3            In conclusion, the proposal remains unchanged. Approval is sought to proceed to the publication and representation stages of the statutory process.

Recommended

That the Cabinet Member:

•      considers the responses to the pre-statutory consultation carried out on the proposal to close Willows Centre for Children but to continue to deliver the specialist provision provided by Willows as part of an expanded Cliffdale Primary Academy. 

•      authorises the Director for Children, Families and Education to proceed to the publication and representation stages of the statutory process to close Willows Centre for Children.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Cabinet Member

a)    considered the responses to the pre-statutory consultation carried out on the proposal to close Willows Centre for Children but to continue to deliver the specialist provision provided by Willows as part of an expanded Cliffdale Primary Academy.

b)   authorised the Director for Children, Families and Education to proceed to the publication and representation stages of the statutory process to close Willows Centre for Children.

The Deputy Director for Children, Families and Education presented the report and highlighted the following areas:                                        

·           The Willows Centre was a maintained special school offering specialist early years and primary phase education to children aged 3 to 7 with Special Educational Needs (SEN) from a site next to Cliffdale Primary Academy (a special academy school). Willows had 42 full time equivalent specialist places for nursery, reception and year 1 pupils. Pupils were placed at the Willows by the Local Authority.

·           That there are reservations about the proposed changes, despite the excellent quality of provision at Cliffdale and the outstanding reputation and standards across the Solent Academies Trust. 

·           Formal advice from the government had confirmed that the Willows Centre for Children could not become a stand-alone academy or one within a Multi-Academy Trust as it did not meet the required criteria. Therefore, retaining the Willows as a separate entity was not possible.

·           The final position depended on the Secretary of State approving the business case for the Solent Academies Trust.

The Cabinet Member said that she was supportive of the direction of travel and that it was important that it was realised that financial pressures had forced the Council to make this decision.  She went on to say that she had visited the school, and had found that staff were reluctantly supportive of the move. 

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Cabinet Member

a)    considered the responses to the pre-statutory consultation carried out on the proposal to close Willows Centre for Children but to continue to deliver the specialist provision provided by Willows as part of an expanded Cliffdale Primary Academy.

b)   authorised the Director for Children, Families and Education to proceed to the publication and representation stages of the statutory process to close Willows Centre for Children.