Issue a public notice to increase of designated number for St Nicholas’s (Special) School and allocated funds to improve the current accommodation.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Canterbury City South West;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 05/10/2014
Department: Education & Young People's Services
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.
Consultation process
Financial Implications
There are no financial implications attached to these proposals as it is about updating the designated numbers to match the number of children that the schools currently provide for.
Bold Steps for Kent and Policy Framework
These proposals will help to secure our 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 ‘Bold Steps for Kent’.
As set out in Kent’s 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.
Consultees
Consultation
The public consultation ended on 6 October 2014 with
one response being received from a parent. The parent was concerned that the proposal was to
admit even more pupils to the school than were currently on
roll. The parent was advised that this
was not the case.
Views
The Local Member Mr Martin Vye has been consulted and is supportive of the proposal.
The view of the St Nicholas’ School:
“We are pleased that the re-designation of our school number recognises the significant expansion in our pupil roll that has already taken place. We feel that we have the resources and expertise to meet the needs of this large group of learners, now and into the future”.
The view of the Area Education Officer:
The Area Education Officer fully supports the proposals to increase the designated numbers 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 Lead Director: Kevin Shovelton Director of Education Planning and Access 01622 694174 kevin.shovelton@kent.gov.uk
Legal implications: 14/00123