Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2009 be agreed as a true record.

Report by Rosalind Turner, Managing Director, Children, Families and Education)

(1)       Before the commencement of discussion on this item, Ms S Carey and Mr C Capon indicated that they would speak to this item as Local Members and would therefore abstain from voting on the recommendation.

(2)       This report sought the views of the Advisory Board on undertaking a public consultation to relocate and designate Foxwood and Highview Schools and to remove the boarding provision from Foxwood School.

(3)       Mr Adams introduced this matter by highlighting the key issues relating to these proposals as detailed in the report.  During the course of discussion, Members of the Advisory Board raised a number of points of detail to which Mr Adams responded accordingly.

(4)       Speaking as a Local Member, Ms Carey said that whilst she supported the undertaking of a public consultation, she did have concerns that the proposal would increase the traffic flows in and around the Brockhill site and therefore asked that appropriate measures be taken in order to reduce this.  Mr Adams said that the traffic situation in and around the Brockhill site would be investigated as part of the overall proposal. However as the numbers attending the Brockhill School were currently reducing, he believed that would offset any possible increase in the traffic numbers which may come about as a result of the proposal.  Mr Capon as a local Member said that he supported the proposals but that he had been approached by parents from Nonnington who had said that they were not aware of these proposals. Mr Adams said that he would look into that and confirmed parents would be formally consulted on these proposals, including parents with children at Nonnington.

(5)       Following further discussion, the Advisory Board resolved to recommend that a public consultation be undertaken on the proposal to re-designate Foxwood School as a school for profound and severe learning needs and Highview School as a school for complex learning needs and to relocate both schools onto the site of the Brockhill Park Performing Arts College; and remove the boarding provision at Foxwood School.

Report by Rosalind Turner, Managing Director, Children, Families and Education)

(1)       This report proposed the relocation of Laleham Gap (Community Special) School, Margate to a site at Pysons Road, Broadstairs adjacent to the new Ellington and Hereson School in a new building to be provided through Building Schools for the Future Funding.  The report also sought the views of the Advisory Board on undertaking a public consultation on the possible relocation of the school.

(2) Mr Doole introduced this report by highlighting the key elements of the proposal and said that the Building Schools for the Future Programme would enable the complete re-building of the school to a design of the highest quality.  The proposal would also mean that the school could be consolidated onto a single site with enhanced opportunities for cross-phase association, more efficient timetabling and access to state of the art facilities.  Mr Doole also reported the views from Mr Wells and Mr Jarvis as Local Members. Mr Wells supported the proposals but had said that the footpath running through the site was in need of refurbishment.  Mr Wells believed the proposal was sensible and would ensure the benefits of new build were brought to an excellent special school.  Mr Jarvis also supported the recommendations.

(3)       During the course of discussion, Members of the Advisory Board raised a number of points of details to which Mr Doole replied accordingly.

(4)       Following further discussion, the Advisory Board agreed that a public consultation should be undertaken on the possible relocation of Laleham Gap Special School from its existing split locations in Margate and Broadstairs to the site in Pysons Road, Broadstairs adjacent to the new Ellington and Hereson School.

Report by Rosalind Turner, Managing Director, Children, Families and Education)

(1)       This report explained the need to consider a proposal to close the maintained nursery at Aylesham Primary School and to change the age range from 3-11 years to 4-11 years with effect from 1 September 2010.  Mr Doole introduced the report by highlighting the key elements of the proposals which would give more flexibility to tailor services to meet the needs of parents/carers in the Aylesham community. If the maintained nursery was to close, all the nursery education funding payments would be made to the Neighbourhood Nursery and all the finances would be under the control of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.  That would have a significant beneficial impact on the Neighbourhood Nursery’s long term sustainability.  The proposal  offered seamless continuity of service and the Pre-School Learning Alliance would continue its commitment to working in partnership with the school to help monitor quality and delivery of the Early Year’s Foundation Curriculum.  The Neighbourhood Nursery would also continue to be part of the Children’s Centre core offer.

(2)       During the course of discussion, Members of the Advisory Board raised a number of detailed questions to which Mr Doole responded accordingly.

(3)       Following further detailed discussion, the Advisory Board resolved to recommend that a consultation exercise be undertaken on the proposal to change the age range for Aylesham (Community) Primary School by closing the maintained nursery class. 

- Report by Ms Rosalind Turner, Managing Director, Children, Families and Education)

(1)  Before the commencement of discussion on this item, Mrs E Tweed indicated that she would speak as the Local Member and would therefore abstain from voting on the recommendation.  

(1)       This report proposed the expansion of the John Wesley School by one form of entry bringing the total capacity to 420 places, with up to 60 places per year group.  The expansion of the school would be gradual with additional places being created annually to accommodate reception aged pupils only, and therefore taking seven years for the school to grow to its full size.  Under the proposal the first two form entry intake was proposed for September 2010.

(2)       Mrs Tweed speaking as a local Member said she supported  the proposals but raised some points of detail to which Mr Adams responded accordingly.

(3)       Following further discussion, the Advisory Board resolved to recommend that a public consultation be undertaken on the proposal to expand the John Wesley School from 210 to 420 places.