Decision details

This proposal will help to secure our ambition, “to ensure every child can go to a good school where they make good progress and to support vulnerable pupils, including pupils with special education needs and disabilities, so that they achieve well and make good progress”,

The Special Educational Needs section of the Kent Commissioning Plan 2013-2018 relating to the future provision for children with special educational needs will be updated in line with the development of Kent’s Strategy for SEN and Disability.  The overarching aim of the strategy is to improve the health, well-being, attainment and progress, and quality of provision for children and young people with SEN.  An important aspect of this is to review the future capacity of specialist SEN provision within special schools and within the mainstream sector.

Financial Implications:

a)        Capital - A feasibility study has been completed. The total cost is estimated to be in the region of £9,650,000 of which £1,271,512 will be funded from the Targeted Basic Need allocation from the DfE made in August 2013 and the remainder from the £30m capital allocation approved by members at the meeting of the County Council on 9 February 2012 for the delivery of the final phase of the Special School Review which began in May 2005.  The costs of the project are estimates and these may increase as the project is developed.  If the cost of the project is greater than 10% the Cabinet Member will be required to take a further decision to allocate the additional funding.

b)        Special Schools are funded using the DfE Place Plus funding methodology for High Needs Pupils and the Local Authority has agreed to purchase 180 places for September 2015 and 193 for September 2016.  For each additional classroom, resulting from the increase in the designated number, the sum of £6,000 will be allocated towards classroom set up costs.

c)         Human - The School will appoint additional teachers and support staff as required.

As the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform I have taken a decision to:

(i)            Increase the designated number subject to planning for the new school buildings on the Pysons Road site

(ii)          Allocate £9,650,000 from the Education, Learning and Skills Capital Budget.

(iii)         Authorise the Director of Property and Infrastructure Support in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance to enter into any necessary contracts/agreements on behalf of the County Council.

(iv)         Authorise the Director of Property and Infrastructure Support to be the nominated Authority Representative within the relevant agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under the contracts.

This decision is conditional upon the grant of planning permission under part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 30 May 2014