Issue details

22/00043 - Proposal to make prescribed changes to Meadowfield (Foundation) Special School from September 2022

 

 

Proposed decision: 

Issue a public notice to:

(i)            Establish a satellite provision for 16 primary aged pupils at Sunny Bank Primary School.

(ii)          Increase the designated number from 348 to 366

 

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

 

(i)            Establish a satellite provision for 16 primary aged pupils at Sunny Bank Primary School.

(ii)          Increase the designated number from 348 to 366

 

Reason for the decision

Meadowfield Special School is unable to expand any further on its main school site and demand for PSCN Special school places in Swale 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 Meadowfield students the opportunity to integrate, (where appropriate) with their mainstream peers.

 

Background

Meadowfield (Foundation) Special School is a day provision for boys and girls aged 3 to 19 with Profound, Severe and Complex Needs (PSCN) including Autism. In addition to the main building at Swanstree Avenue Sittingbourne, the school also operates a 6th form provision at Ufton Lane Sittingbourne. The new satellite at Sunny Bank Primary School will provide additional opportunities and choice for integration for Meadowfield pupils.

 

Options (other options considered but discarded)

Meadowfield is unable to expand further on its current main site. Sunny Bank Primary School was identified as a possible site for a satellite due to its proximity to Meadowfield, the support of the academy trust for the proposal and having accommodation which could easily be reconfigured in order to open a satellite within the timescales.

 

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. 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.

 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Division affected: Sittingbourne North; Sittingbourne South;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 26/04/2022

Decision due: Not before 25th May 2022 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Lead director: Christine McInnes

Department: Education & Young People's Services

Contact: Marisa White, Area Education Officer - East Kent Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01227 284407.

Consultees

The report is planned to be taken to the CYPE Cabinet Committee on 10 May 2022.

Financial implications: Capital The project will ensure the satellite has its own dedicated accommodation of 3 classrooms and additional intervention space and external play area within Sunny Bank Primary School. The capital costs for refitting and reconfiguration of classrooms at Sunny Bank Primary School and creation of an external play area will be £300K and will be funded through the KCC Basic Need Capital Budget. Revenue As per KCC policy a total of £6,000 per newly provided learning space will be provided to the school from the DGS revenue budget. KCC will work closely with the senior leadership teams of both schools to ensure that all appropriate accommodation and facilities are provided to enable them to deliver an effective curriculum.

Legal implications: Service level agreements specifying the responsibilities of each party and setting out any revenue costs to be covered will be put into place between Meadowfield Special School and Sunny Bank Primary School (The Island Learning Trust). Any further legal implications will be identified in the report to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills before the decision is taken to issue a statutory public notice.

Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment has been produced as part of the consultation process. A DPIA has not been completed as there is no risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals.

Decisions

Documents