The Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent (KCP) is a five year rolling plan which is updated annually. It sets out how Kent discharges its statutory responsibility, as the Strategic Commissioner of Education Provision, to provide sufficient Early Years, SEND, Primary and Secondary places and to ensure that there are appropriate learning pathways for pupils at Post 16. It is also our responsibility to ensure that we have enough places in the right locations, to meet the demands of increased pupil numbers and parental preferences. It reflects the fact that the Local Authority’s role has changed to being the commissioner, as well as continuing to be a provider, of education provision.
Data from the Office for National Statics (ONS) and the Health Authority suggest that births across the County, which have fluctuated in recent years, rose slightly in 2016-17. The numbers of families with primary and secondary aged pupils migrating into the County continue to be greater than the numbers moving out, with a net increase in the year ending June 2017 of 1,575 pupils at primary age and 862 at secondary. The housing identified in District/Borough core plans or their variants suggest there is provision for up to 55,000 new homes across the period 2017-18 to 2022-23. These factors require increases in the provision of school places (particularly at the secondary school phase) in the coming years.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/10/2018
Decision due: Not before 14th Jan 2019 by Cabinet
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements, and to allow for Cabinet Committee consideration.
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Lead director: Matt Dunkley CBE
Contact: Keith Abbott, Director of Education Planning and Access 03000 417008 Email: keith.abbott@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01622 696588.
Consultees
Individual consultations will be taken out on each proposal outlined in the Commissioning Plan if required.
Consultation will take place at the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 29 November 2019.
The decision will be considered and endorsed at Cabinet in January 2019.
Financial implications: The Local Authority as Strategic Commissioner of Education Provision has a key role in securing funding to provide sufficient education provision in the County, particularly in schools, in order to meet its statutory responsibilities. The cost of providing additional school places is met from Government Basic Need Grant, supported borrowing by KCC and developer contribution monies. The forecast capital outlay needed to fulfil the need identified in the Commission Plan 2019-23 will be provided in the report to CYPE Cabinet Committee on 29 November 2019 for comment, prior to full sign off by Cabinet in January 2019.
Legal implications: The Kent Commissioning Plan for Education enables KCC to meet its Statutory responsibility to ensure that every child receives appropriate educational provision
Equalities implications: A full EqIA has been completed