Decision details

To increase the designated number of spaces from 96 to 112 at St Anthony’s (Special) School children with Behavioural, Emotional, Social Needs and Learning Difficulties and allocate the funds necessary to improve the current accommodation in order to accommodate additional students.

Further information
Financial Implication:
To facilitate the increase in the designated number it is proposed that KCC funded improvements to the school will provide new indoor sports facilities, changing rooms and ancillary spaces necessary to meet the needs of students.  It is proposed that KCC funded improvements to the school will provide new indoor sports facilities, changing rooms and ancillary spaces necessary to meet the needs of students. A feasibility study has been completed. The total cost is estimated to be in the region of £1.5 million of which £528,605 will be funded from Targeted Basic Need and the remainder from the capital projects budget and Special Schools Review Budget. 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.
Revenue: The schools delegated budget will be allocated on an agreed number of commissioned places in accordance with the High Needs funding methodology of ‘Place Plus’
Human: St Antony’s School will appoint additional teachers, as the school size increases and the need arises.
This proposal will help to secure the Council’s ambition to ensure every child will go to a ‘good’ school where they make good progress and can have fair access to school places.
As set out in our SEN and Disability Strategy this proposal supports our aim for every child and young person in Kent to achieve their full life potential, whatever their background. 
The ‘Kent Commissioning Plan for Education Provision, 2013-18’ referred to the need to review the future capacity of specialist SEN provision within special schools and within the mainstream sector.

Decision Background
The Commissioning Plan for 2013 - 18 was discussed at the September 2013 Education Cabinet Committee https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=746&MId=5033&Ver=4
and agreed at Cabinet in the following October
http://kent590w3:9070/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=3899&Ver=4
The SEND Strategy followed, and was approved by Cabinet in July 2013
http://kent590w3:9070/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=5007&Ver=4
From this strategy an implementation document was considered and endorsed by the Education and Cabinet Committee on 14 March 2014
https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=746&MId=5471&Ver=4
This decision is a result of that review.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform has agreed to:

(i)         Issue a public notice to increase the designated number of St Anthony’s School from 96           to 112

And, subject to no objections being received to the public notice

(ii)        Increase the designated number of St Anthony’s (Community Special) School from 96 to 112

(iii)         Allocate £1.5m, of which £528,605 will be funded from Targeted Basic Need and £971,395 from Capital Projects budget and Special Schools Review Budget

(iv)         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

(v)          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 planning permission being granted.

Should any objections, not already considered by the Cabinet Member when taking this decision, be received during the notice period, a separate decision will be required in order to continue the proposals and allow for proper consideration of the points raised.