CHERBOURG PRIMARY SCHOOL, EASTLEIGH

1. The Executive Member has approved the establishment of resourced provision, comprising a unit for up to 7 children with emotional and behavioural difficulty at Cherbourg Primary School, Eastleigh. He has agreed to the publication of public notices to make a prescribed alteration to Cherbourg Primary School by the establishment of such resourced provision with effect from September 2004, on the understanding that pupils are not placed there until the additional accommodation is complete. As the school is on a very restricted site, it is also hoped to take the opportunity to make a modest extension to the main school building and this will be considered a high priority in the capital programme for 2004/05.

2. The development of resourced provision for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties at this school will provide great benefits, as at present there are no specialist places in either mainstream or special primary schools in the South West of Hampshire, and pupils have to travel long distances to gain access to suitable placements elsewhere. There has been a programme of consultations with staff, governors, parents and the local community, with a wide measure of support for establishing the unit, whose pupils would be partly integrated with the rest of the school. Both the Executive Member and the Education Policy Review Committee have been impressed at the positive way in which the community of Cherbourg Primary School have supported the development of proposals for the unit for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties to be established as part of their school.

D.G. ALLEN

Executive Member for Education