Background Information:
The age-range of Stone Bay (Community Special) School changed from11-19 years to 8-19 years from September 2017 with the introduction of KS2 classes. The school together with KCC now wish to extend the provision to include all of KS2 (from age 7) and KS1 (from age 5) in order to meet local demand.
Options:
The Headteacher and Governing Body fully support the proposal and feel very strongly that there is a need for a KS1 class in Stone Bay School as other special schools in the area are at capacity. Stone Bay is a specialist provision that provides for children who have a diagnosed autistic spectrum disorder, profound, severe and complex needs and additional comorbidities.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Broadstairs;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/03/2019
Decision due: Not before 17th Apr 2019 by Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Lead director: Keith Abbott
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Marisa White, Area Education Officer - East Kent Tel: 03000 418794 Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01227 284407.
Consultees
This matter will be considered by the Infrastructure Commissioning Board on 30 April 2019 or 24 May 2019.
A four week public consultation took place between 04 March and 01 April 2019.
At the end of the consultation period, a report will be provided for the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on the outcome of the consultation. Because of the timescale involved to enable the school to establish a KS1 class from September 2019 (if agreed), the public notice would need to be published at the end of April/beginning of May. Therefore, the decision will need to be taken by the Cabinet Member in April, outside of Committee Meeting.
A report with details of the proposal and statutory timeline for consultation were provided at the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee meeting on 28 March 2019.
The views of the local Member will be included in the report to Cabinet Committee and Cabinet Member at the end of the consultation period.
Financial implications: It is expected that the project will require minimal internal works to provide the facilities for younger children and the current estimated cost is £1,750.
Legal implications: Any legal implications will be identified in the report to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education before he takes his decision to issue a public notice.
Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment is attached and will also be accessible online via the following link: www.kent.gov.uk/schoolconsultations at the start of the consultation.