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  • Issue
  • Issue details

    St Anthony’s (Special) School - Increase designated number and allocate funds

    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.

     

     

    Decision type: Non-key

    Decision status: Recommendations Approved

    Division affected: Margate & Cliftonville;

    Notice of proposed decision first published: 05/10/2014

    Contact: Kevin Shovelton, Director Education Planning & Access 01622 694174 and 01227 284407 Email: kevin.shovelton@kent.gov.uk, Marisa White, Area Education Officer - East Kent Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01227 284407.

    Consultees

    Report to Education Cabinet Committee on 14 March 2014.

    The public consultation ended on 6 October 2014.

    The only response to the St Anthony’s consultation was from Thanet District Council, indicating their support for the proposal.

     

    Views

     

    The Local Members for Margate & Cliftonville Division were consulted.

     

    ·                Mo Elenor, Local Member for Margate and Cliftonville, responded to the St Anthony’s consultation saying that she supported the proposal as the increase is not excessive and in the current climate seems necessary.

               

    The view of St Anthony’s School

    From a school point of view we are happy to extend the designated number from 96 to 112 as in reality this is in line with historic actual numbers.  The transition to a more Secondary resource would also be welcomed but realise that pressures may make the aspiration of developing primary units on mainstream school sites unlikely in the short term.

     

    We would welcome further advice on the capital improvements that will be needed to transform the primary area into a secondary resource area, along with building considerations which are well overdue, e.g. replacement roof and heating system.

     

    In conclusion we realise there is a need to have flexibility in the plans so that we can meet the complex needs of a growing B & L cohort in the Thanet area.

     

    The view of the Area Education Officer:

    The Area Education Officer fully supports the proposal to increase the designated number of the school to reflect the number of children that have been admitted over time to ensure the local authority meets its responsibilities.  The permanent increase will enable the local authority to continue to meet its responsibilities with regard to providing sufficient places for pupils for whom an appropriate placement is at a special school.

     

    Financial implications: Marisa White Area Education Officer (East Kent) 01227 284407 marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Kevin Shovelton Director of Education Planning and Access 01622 694174 kevin.shovelton@kent.gov.uk

    Legal implications: 14/00122

    Decisions