Crookhorn College - Proposal for a Resourced Provision (RP) for pupils with Autism (ASC)

Children with an autism diagnosis can have difficulties with social interaction, communication and can also have speech and language needs and the school already support a number of children with complex needs associated with autism. It has been identified that there are an increasing number of children in the county who are being diagnosed with this condition and we are working towards expanding our offer of support to these children.

The pupils who would attend the new provision would generally be from the local area. They would have Education, Health and Care Plans and have complex needs meaning that they would find it difficult to manage within a mainstream school environment. When places in the Resourced Provision are agreed by the SEN Service, the children would go on roll at Crookhorn College and the school would receive additional resources to ensure that the children’s needs are well supported so that they can successfully access the mainstream environment and curriculum.

Additional classroom space is required as a base for the Resourced Provision. The school proposes to make available space to accommodate the Resourced Provision within its existing refurbished accommodation. Appropriate IT, furniture and equipment will also be provided.

The governing body of the school are fully supportive and the Headteacher will work closely with Hampshire County Council to ensure all pupils benefit regarding this joint project.

The Consultation

The purpose of this consultation is to ask for your views and consult on the development of a new Resourced Provision for pupils with autism at Crookhorn College from September 2025. It is important to hear your views at this stage so we can consider them as part of the work to be undertaken, should approval be obtained.

The consultation and decision-making process is outlined below:

• This consultation will run from 30 September to 23 October 2024.
• A report outlining the consultation responses received will then be taken to the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services in January 2025 to decide if the proposal should continue to the formal statutory consultation stage.
• If approved, a statutory Public Notice would be published in February 2025 setting out Hampshire County Council’s intent to increase the capacity of the school. This is a four week period in which any representations can be made to the local authority.
• A final report would then be taken to Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services Decision Day in June 2025 who will decide whether or not to proceed with the proposal.

Further Information

A drop-in session where you will be able to discuss the proposal with Hampshire County Council officers will take place on Monday 14 October between 3:30pm and 6pm at Crookhorn College.

Frequently asked questions

If you are unable to attend the drop-in and wish to make a comment, then please write to [email protected] by 23 October 2024.