Issue - meetings

Purpose of report

To update the Cabinet Member for Education on the outcome of the pre-statutory consultation, held between 5^th - 20^th July 2016, on the proposal to change the SEN designation of Redwood Park School, and to seek approval to proceed to a statutory consultation. This is in recognition of the increasingly complex profile of need of pupils attending the school.

RECOMMENDED: that the Cabinet Member for Education:

(1)  Note the outcome of the pre-statutory consultation.

(2)  Delegate the power to the Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education, to proceed with the publication of the statutory proposal to re-designate Redwood Park School as a school for complex needs and autism (i.e. pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD) or autistic spectrum condition (ASD)).

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Chris Williams, Pupil Place Planning & Capital Strategy Officer.  He explained that the consultation ran from 5 to 20 July and circulated to members a summary of the responses received (copy attached to the minutes). 

In response to questions the following points were clarified:

·         The low turnout from the consultation was not unusual.  All responses received were from parents and the school are supportive of the proposals.

·         The consultation was sent to all parents at the school which is approximately 140 and 11 responses were received. 

·         Those pupils currently in the school would not be affected by the change of designation.

·         The previously agreed capital investment in both Redwood Park and Cliffdale schools will completely remodel the schools.

·         There are currently 38 pupils in expensive out of city provision.

·           Trafalgar School has specialist classes for autism pupils and would take 6 pupils and St Edmunds specialises in sensory impairment and would also take about 9 pupils.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for their work on the consultation.

DECISIONS: The Cabinet Member:

(1)    Noted the outcome of the pre-statutory consultation.

(2)    Authorised the Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education, to proceed to the representation stage, by publishing statutory proposals to re-designate Redwood Park School as a school for complex needs and autism (i.e. pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD) or autistic spectrum condition (ASD)).