To expand the school from 2FE to 3FE and add a 15 place Specialist Resource Provision for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
The Swale district section of the Kent Commissioning Plan for Education Provision 2015-19 has identified aneed for up to213 Reception Year places inSheerness,which exceeds the number of placesavailable. ExpandingWestMinsterPrimary Schoolfrom2FE to3FE willhelp toaddress these pressures andadheresto theprinciples oftheCommissioningPlan asit increasescapacity ata good, popular school. The SEND Strategy forms the County Council's policy and strategy for special educationalneeds,andwas approvedby Cabinetin July2013. Itidentifieskey prioritiesto improve andexpand provision andclosetheattainmentgap forchildrenwithspecialeducationalneeds and disabilities. Itidentifiedthe needto increasecapacity,includingopening SRBPsinmainstream settings so thatadditionalchildrencan havehelpina localmainstream school.
It isproposedto enlargeWest MinsterPrimarySchoolby 210placestaking thePAN to90 (3FE)for the September 2016intake andeventuallya totalcapacityof 630places. Itis proposedto adda 15place specialistresourcebase provisionfor childrenwith speech,language andcommunication needs.
a. Capital: Theenlargement oftheschoolrequires theprovisionof 7additionalclassrooms, as well as ancillary facilities, plus a classroom for the SRBP. Afeasibility study has been completed. The total costisestimated tobe inthe regionof £3,000,000. Appropriate funding has beenidentified aspart ofthe Medium TermCapital Programme. Thecosts ofthe project are estimates and thesemay increaseas theprojectis developed. Ifthe costof theproject is greater than10%the CabinetMember willbe required totake afurther decisionto allocatethe additionalfunding.
b.Revenue:For aperiodof threeacademic years,from September2016,the schoolwillreceive protection for anadditional30 Reception Yearpupilsat therate of£2,740 perpupil. Foreach additional classroom, resulting from the expansion ofthe school, the sum of £6,000 will be allocated towards theclassroom set-upcosts.The schoolwill receivefunding forits SRBP;the fundingwillbe allocated at £10,000per place,for aguaranteed numberof places andtop up fundingwillallocatedinadditionto thisbased onthe actualattendance ofthe pupil.
c. Human:West MinsterPrimarySchoolwillappointadditionalteachers, includinga specialist teacherfor theSRBP, asthe needarisesand theschool sizeincreases.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Sheerness;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/01/2015
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Kevin Shovelton, Director Education Planning & Access 03000 413214 Email: kevin.shovelton@kent.gov.uk, Marisa White, Area Education Officer - East Kent Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01227 284407.
Consultees
On 24September 2014, the Education and Young People’s ServicesCabinetCommittee endorsedthe KentCommissioning Plan,which identifieda need foradditionalplacesin theSwaleDistrict.
Financial implications: Marisa White, Area Education Officer for East Kent 03000 413214 Marisa.white@kent.gov.uk
Legal implications: 14/00160