Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

Recommendations:

1.    That the proposal to make prescribed alterations to the Willows Special school by increasing the number of planned places from 120 to 150 be approved.

2.    That the Secretary of State for Education be informed accordingly.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval of the proposal to make prescribed alterations to the Willows Special school by increasing the number of planned places from 120 to 150. Periods of pre-statutory and statutory consultation had been completed following reports to Cabinet in June 2021 and October 2021 respectively.

The alterations were required as the number of pupils currently on roll exceeded the registered number of 120 by more than 10% or 20 pupils and it was expected that the number would continue to be exceeded by the set criteria for more than 2 years. This was in accordance with the Department for Education (DfE) School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.

The increase to 150 places would enable parental preferences for placements to continue to be satisfied in the future, thus avoiding the need to seek placement at other schools or out of the authority against the wishes of parents/carers.

Two representations had been received in response to the statutory consultation which was completed by the posting of a public notice between 12th November, 2021, and 10th December, 2021. The representations were broadly supportive.

Resolved:-

1.    That the proposal to make prescribed alterations to the Willows Special School by increasing the number of planned places from 120 to 150 is approved; and

2.    That the Secretary of State for Education be informed accordingly.