Background Information:
The Beacon Folkestone is an outstanding special school in Folkestone, designated to accommodate 336 pupils with Profound, Severe and Complex Needs. As of January 2019, it had 369 pupils on roll. As part of the proposal The Beacon Folkestone intend to locate a satellite class at Castle Hill Community Primary School for up to 10 Key Stage 2 children. This will open from September 2019 within accommodation presently available.
Legislation requires that statutory proposals are undertaken where the number of pupils on roll of a special school exceeds its designated number by more than 10%. Therefore, we are proposing to increase the designated number to 380, to regularise the current position and to increase the number of places available.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Folkestone East; Folkestone West;
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: David Adams, Assistant Director Education (South Kent) Tel: 03000 414989 Email: david.adams@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01233 898559.
Consultees
There is no need for the proposal to be considered by the Infrastructure Commissioning Board as the proposal is outside the terms of reference.
A consultation took place between 01 February 2019 and 08 March 2019.
The report was presented to the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 28 March 2019.
Financial implications: The Beacon Folkestone will receive the funding for the pupils in line with the funding allocated to special schools through KCC’s funding formula. Additionally, minor alterations are required to the accommodation at Castle Hill Community Primary School to facilitate the Satellite. The anticipated cost of these is £30,000 and will be met from the SEN revenue budget.
Legal implications: N/A
Equalities implications: The Equality Impact Assessment is in place. No adverse impacts have been identified at this point.