Archived decisions

Contact: George Heller, Deputy County Education Officer ext 6518

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

1.2 To note responses from consultations (report attached).

1.3 To approve the closure of Tankerville School, Eastleigh, on 31 August 2002.

2 Reason

2.1 Current staffing/recruitment difficulties, class organisation encompassing up to three and four key stages in individual classes, a pupil roll declining to circa 28 in September 2002 are likely to affect adversely the ability of the school to provide satisfactory education for its pupils.

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Continuation of Tankerville School beyond August 2002 until the overall special schools reorganisation at Easter 2003.

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted - not applicable.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable.

6 Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable.

Approved by Date of decision

Councillor D Allen 23 January 2001

Contact: George Heller, Deputy County Education Officer 01962 846518

1 Summary

1.1 This report outlines the results of consultations on the proposed closure of Tankerville School at the end of the summer term 2002, two terms in advance of the rest of the Eastleigh and Winchester special schools reorganisation.

1.2 During the autumn term 2001 the headteacher of Tankerville School discussed with officers a proposal that Tankerville School should close at the end of the summer term 2002 thereby allowing a transition period of two terms to take place from September 2002 until Easter 2003 when the special schools reorganisation in Eastleigh and Winchester would take effect. The off-site classes (at Toynbee School and at the Crescent Primary School in Eastleigh) would continue but be managed by Lankhills and Shepherds Down Schools, respectively, from September 2002 rather than from Easter 2003. Pupils aged post-16 would transfer either to a college or to social services' day services provision. Other pupils (of primary and secondary age) would transfer to other Eastleigh and Winchester special schools and would be accompanied by teaching and support staff with whom they are already familiar.

1.3 The above proposal would provide the best transition programme possible as well as an opportunity for the adult-pupil relationship to be continued beyond the summer term 2002.

1.4 Consultation has taken place with the governing body, parents and staff. This proposal has been supported unanimously by the governors. The governors of Lankhills, Shepherds Down and Greenacres have also endorsed the proposal; it is to those three schools to which the majority of pupils would transfer in September 2002.

1.5 Parents have been consulted at a meeting convened by the headteacher, supported by officers, and by letter. There is general acceptance of the proposed arrangements on the part of the parent community. Staff have agreed to the proposed arrangements.

1 Tankerville Staff

2.1 The pressures on staffing arrangements at Tankerville during this academic year are very severe. The school is currently without a number of experienced staff many of whom have succeeded in securing appointments at Lankhills and Shepherds Down in advance of the reorganisation since vacancies arose for September 2001. In common with other special schools, it has proved difficult to recruit suitable replacement staff to Tankerville. As a consequence, both headteacher and deputy have full-time class responsibilities. This has generated huge pressure on the school's management in an environment where the headteacher and deputy would in normal circumstances have time to work with other agencies, meet parents and monitor teacher and learning. These activities have been severely constrained. The burdens, therefore, on the head and deputy (and on all staff) as a result, are acknowledged to be severe and cannot reasonably be allowed to continue beyond the end of the current academic year.

2.2 Crucially, the expected number on roll in September 2002 is likely to be, at most, 28 pupils (including 11 in the off-site classes). 28 pupils within the age range 4 to 16 would result in the continuation of 3, or even 4, Key Stages being covered in individual classes. The transfer of children, therefore, to the other three schools (Lankhills, Shepherds Down and Greenacres) would allow for significantly better educational arrangements for these children and would allow the staff transferring from Tankerville to enjoy being part of larger staff teams in all three establishments.

3 Management of off-site classes

3.1 Tankerville has operated off-site classes at Toynbee Secondary School and at the Crescent Primary School in Eastleigh for a number of years. It has always been the intention that following the closure of Tankerville School, Lankhills would undertake responsibility for the class at Toynbee and Shepherds Down the class at the Crescent Primary School. Both schools have agreed to take on these responsibilities from September 2002.

4 Placement of Children

4.1 The headteacher of Tankerville has discussed with each parent the likely placement of their child in September 2002. Parents have accepted these arrangements. Those staff who would transfer with the pupils to Shepherds Down, Lankhills and Greenacres have accepted the arrangement whereby they would move with the individual pupil in order that each pupil's educational and social needs can continue to be addressed in the new settings.

4.2 On funding, the principle would be "funding to follow the children". In other words, the education department would ensure that the budgets of Greenacres, Shepherds Down and Lankhills would receive appropriate top-up funding so that the pupil transfer arrangements would be robustly funded. Where the base funding would be less than the special need of the pupil transferring from Tankerville, top-up funding would come from the discretionary exceptions budget.

4.3 A number of Tankerville staff (for example administrative, clerical and school meals colleagues) would not transfer to the other schools. Education Personnel Services will be meeting the staff on an individual basis to discuss their future.

4.4 For those staff transferring to other schools who would find it difficult to travel, arrangements would be made to provide transport; no member of staff would be out of pocket.

5 Therapy

5.1 The three therapy services within the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust have been informed of the likely new arrangements. Names of transferring pupils have been passed to them and therapy services should be redeployed accordingly.

6 Social Services

6.1 Some three pupils who will be aged 16 plus in September 2002 would transfer early into day services. The Education Department would negotiate the funding of these places with social services' colleagues.

7 Accommodation

7.1 There is sufficient accommodation at Lankhills, Greenacres and Shepherds Down for all pupils who would transfer.

8 SEN Forum

8.1 The SEN Forum (comprising representatives from all schools involved in the Winchester and Eastleigh reorganisation) met on 11 December. There was clear agreement to the proposed way forward.

9. Statutory proposals

9.1 The original approval to the closure of Tankerville School, as part of the overall reorganisation, was given by the Secretary of State in 1999. At that time, it was expected that the implementation date would be 31 August 2001. It will, therefore, be necessary to ask the Secretary of State to modify this to the new implementation date. Similar modifications will be required for the other schools involved.

Recommendation

To advise the Executive Member for Education:

That Tankerville School should close on 31 August 2002.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.