Hollywater School – Proposal to expand the school
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Children with severe learning difficulties (SLD) have significant intellectual or cognitive impairments. This has a major effect on their ability to participate in the school curriculum without support. They may also have associated difficulties in mobility and co-ordination, communication and perception and acquisition of self-help skills. Pupils with severe learning difficulties will need support in all areas of the curriculum. They may also require teaching of self-help, independence and social skills. Some pupils may use sign and symbols, but most will be able to hold simple conversations and gain some literacy skills.
The pupils who would attend the school as a result of the expansion if agreed would generally be from the local area. They would have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and have complex needs meaning that they would find it difficult to manage within a mainstream school environment.
The current agreed pupil number for Hollywater School is 143 – so we plan to increase to 153 in September 2025 and to 163 in September 2026. Additional classroom space is required in order to expand the school by 20 places. The proposal is to install a two-classroom modular building to provide accommodation for the Post-16 pupils. This will create additional accommodation in the main school for additional pupils aged 4 to16 years. Some minor works may also be required to these spaces.
The Consultation
The purpose of this consultation is to ask for your views and consult on the expansion of Hollywater School 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 Friday 22 November to Friday 20 December 2024
- A report outlining the consultation responses received will then be taken to the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services in February 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 2 December at 3:30pm to 6pm at Hollywater School.
If you are unable to attend the drop-in and wish to make a comment, then please write to [email protected] by Friday 20 December 2024.