Decision details

Proposed decision:

Issue a public notice to:

(i)            Establish a satellite provision for 6 Year R/Key Stage 1 primary aged pupils at Garlinge Primary School and Nursery.

(ii)          Establish a satellite provision for 12 Key Stage 4 students and 12 Post -16 students at EKC Group (Broadstairs College).

(iii)         Increase the designated number from 200 to 230

And, subject to no objections being received to the public notice:

(i)            Establish a satellite provision for 6 Year R/Key Stage 1 primary aged pupils at Garlinge Primary School and Nursery.

(ii)          Establish a satellite provision for 12 Key Stage 4 students and 12 Post -16 students at EKC Group (Broadstairs College).

(iii)         Increase the designated number from 200 to 230

Reason for the decision:

Foreland Fields School is unable to expand on its main school site and demand for PSCN Special school places in Thanet district is increasing. The establishment of satellite provisions on mainstream education sites provides additional capacity whilst also enabling the school’s expertise to be shared with the host school and provide Foreland Fields students the opportunity to integrate, (where appropriate) with their mainstream peers..

Background:

 Foreland Fields (Foundation) Special School is a day provision providing for pupils aged 2 to 19 with Profound, Severe and Complex Needs (PSCN) including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Foreland Fields moved into their new purpose-built school in February 2017. In addition to the main building, the school already operates a primary satellite provision at Garlinge Primary and Nursey School for Key Stage 2 pupils. The new satellites will provide additional opportunities and choice for integration for both primary, secondary and post -16 Foreland pupils.

Options (other options considered but discarded):

There is currently a Key Stage 2 satellite at Garlinge Primary School and it is therefore logical that the proposed Key Stage One class is established at this same school.

There is only one college provider in Thanet. EKCG also runs a 14-16 school on their Broadstairs College site and therefore this provides the opportunity for the establishment of satellite classes covering both Key Stage 4 and Post 16. Foreland Fields do have a Key Stage 3 satellite class at Hartsdown Academy which was suspended during the recent building programme at the school but which is intended to re-commence following planning discussions with Hartsdown.

How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’:

This proposal will help to secure our ambition “to ensure that Kent’s young people have access to the education, work and skills opportunities necessary to support Kent business to grow and be increasingly competitive in the national and international economy”

The proposal also supports KCC’s SEND Strategy 2021-2024. With the aim of the SEND strategy is to improve the educational, health and emotional wellbeing outcomes for all of Kent's children and young people with special educational needs and those who are disabled.

Proposal to make prescribed changes to Foreland Fields (Foundation) Special School from September 2022

• Establish a satellite provision for 6 Year R/Key Stage 1 primary aged pupils at Garlinge Primary School and Nursery.
• Establish a satellite provision for 12 Key Stage 4 students and 12 Post -16 students at EKC Group (Broadstairs College).

Increase the designated number from 200 to 230