Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

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)).

Purpose of report

This report sets out the outcome of the pre-statutory consultation undertaken between 6 June 2016 and 1 July 2016 on a proposal to close the Brambles Nursery and for Goldsmith Infant School to operate full day care provision comprising a 0 - 4 provision alongside the infant school.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Education:

(1)       Consider the responses set out in this report to the consultation undertaken.

(2)       Authorise the Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education, to proceed to the representation stage, by publishing statutory proposals to close the Brambles Nursery School and for Goldsmith Infant School to operate full day care provision comprising 0-4 provision alongside the infant school.

(3)       Support the renaming of the school to Bramble Infant School and Nursery.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Chris Williams, Pupil Place Planning & Capital Strategy Officer. 

In response to questions the following points were clarified:

·         Unions had been involved in the consultation and there would be no detrimental impact on staff as a result of the proposal.

·         The majority of users would see no change and it would be an improved facility.

DECISIONS: The Cabinet member:

(1)   Considered the responses set out in this report to the consultation undertaken.

(2)   Authorised the Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education, to proceed to the representation stage, by publishing statutory proposals to close the Brambles Nursery School and for Goldsmith Infant School to operate full day care provision comprising 0-4 provision alongside the infant school

(3)   Supported the renaming of the school to Bramble Infant School and Nursery.

Re-designation of Redwood Park School

Outcome of the consultation undertaken between 5^th and 20^th July

Section 4.2 of the Cabinet member report states that the consultation responses received will be tabled at the Decision meeting on the 21^st July, 2016.

At the end of the consultation period on 20^th July, the table below shows a summary of the responses received.

From the responses received, four comments were made, as follows:

·         I welcome this change as I believe as in the case of my son and others with autism, it is more about specific needs and requirements and these children should be taught according to their abilities reflecting this.

·         The change (and profit) is understood. Provision at mainstream schools for ASC needs to be reviewed in line with designation to ensure that it is fit for purpose.

·         Hopefully the change will be what Portsmouth has been waiting for, a provision for an autistic school for senior pupils.

·         Felt unable to decide due to the following reasons: Should have been asked after the 4 week consultation and feel that there has not been enough consultation undertaken. When my children left Cliffdale School I understood them to have a diagnosis of MLD which has since moved to SLD, it is worrying that under the new system they may well have been sent to mainstream and would their category have been picked up and acted upon? I understand that there is a high exclusion rate in mainstream schools, with the emergence of so many academies will these schools have carte blanche to exclude these MLD children?