Proposed decision:
To agree the Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2025-29
Reason for Decision and Background
Kent County Council (KCC), as the Local Authority (LA), has a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places are available. The County Council’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2025-29 (KCP) is a five-year rolling plan which is updated annually. It sets out our future plans as Strategic Commissioner of Education Provision across all types and phases of education in Kent.
The Plan sets out how we will carry out our responsibility for ensuring there
are sufficient high quality places, in the right places for all learners, while at the same time fulfilling our other responsibilities to raise education standards and promote parental preference. The Plan details the expected future need for education provision, thereby enabling parents and education providers to put forward proposals as to how these needs might best be met.
This Plan reflects the dynamic and ongoing process of ensuring there are sufficient places for Kent children in schools, and other provisions. It is subject to regular discussion and consultation with schools, district/borough councils, KCC (Kent County Council) Elected Members, the diocesan authorities, and others. The content of this Plan reflects those discussions and consultations.
Options
The KCP sets out the principles by which we determine proposals, and it forecasts the need for future provision. It also sets out in more detail, plans to meet the commissioning needs which arise in each district and borough in Kent during the next five years.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: For Determination
Notice of proposed decision first published: 13/11/2024
Decision due: 30 Jan 2025 by Cabinet
Reason: Decision-making Executive committee
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Lead director: Christine McInnes
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Nick Abrahams, Area Education Officer – West Kent Email: nicholas.abrahams@kent.gov.uk Email: Nicholas.Abrahams@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
The proposed decision will be presented to the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 21 November 2024 prior to Cabinet on 30 January 2025.
Financial implications: The LA as Strategic Commissioner of Education Provision has a key role in securing funding to provide sufficient education provision in the County, particularly in schools, in order to meet its statutory responsibilities. The cost of delivering school places is currently met from Basic Need grant from the Government, prudential borrowing by the County Council, Section 106 property developer contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Government funding for ‘Basic Need’ is allocated on a formula based upon information provided by local authorities concerning forecast numbers of pupils and school capacity.
Legal implications: Each project identified in the KCP will be subject to a separate consultation and decision-making process. The legal implications of each proposal will be identified at that time.
Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) has been completed for the KCP. The screening found no evidence that the KCP will impact negatively on pupils from Protected Groups or lead to them being treated less favourably.