Contact: Eric Smith - Education Officer (SEN)

Telephone: 01962 846245; e-mail: [email protected]

Peter Colenutt - Assistant Education Officer (School Review)

Telephone: 01962 846157; e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 Following the approval of the Executive Member for Education on 18 March 2005 to the investment strategy for the Hedge End, West End and Botley areas, consultations were authorised with Botley CE (Controlled) Primary School and Kings Copse Primary School on the proposal to establish a base for resourced provision for children with a visual impairment at one of the schools.

1.2 The introduction of resourced provision in a mainstream school for pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN) is a "prescribed alteration" and therefore requires a decision by the Executive Member with special responsibility for Education to publish notices of the County Council's intention.

1.3 The proposal contained within this report supports the County Council's Corporate Aim 1: Maximising life opportunities, and Aim 5: Improving services through the provision of purpose-built facilities for primary age children with a visual impairment to support their learning.

2 Background

2.1 On 18 March 2005 the Executive Member for Education approved a strategy for primary school provision in the Hedge End/West End/Botley area designed to reduce the level of surplus places, and at the same time improve teaching and learning facilities at schools in the area. (See Appendix).

2.2 Two elements of the strategy were the provision of a new, 210 place, one form entry (1 fe), primary school to serve a housing development (Dowds Farm) in the north of the area and the rebuilding of Kings Copse Primary as a 1 fe 210 place school on its existing site. Following the publication of statutory notices for the new Dowds Farm school and no objections being received, work is now underway to implement the County Council's proposal. It is intended that the new school at Dowds Farm will open in September 2007. It is also intended that the rebuilt Kings Copse Primary School will be ready for occupation in September 2007.

2.3 The County Council's SEN and Inclusion policies set out the framework whereby children should receive an appropriate education in a mainstream school, as close to home as possible, with reasonable adjustments being made that take account of the needs of all learners. As part of the review of primary school provision in the Hedge End/West End/Botley area, a need for a resource base in this area of the county to provide for primary age pupils with significant visual impairment was identified. Whilst there is a relatively low incidence of this need, some children require access to specialist teaching, support and equipment. A relatively new primary school in Basingstoke serves this need in the north of the county. Hedge End/West End/Botley would be a suitable location for a similar provision which is accessible to children living in the south of the county.

3 Outcome of consultations and the way forward

3.1 The governing bodies of both Botley CE (Controlled) and Kings Copse primary schools would welcome the establishment of SEN resourced provision for children with a visual impairment in their schools. Each school referred to their good track record in meeting the needs of children with SEN and their commitment to inclusive education.

3.2 Officers from the Children and Families Branch have visited Botley and Kings Copse schools and concluded that each would offer a suitable base for VI provision. On balance it is felt that the opportunity of including such provision as part of the design of a new Kings Copse Primary School building offers the most benefit. Each area of a new school building can be designed with the specific needs of, and appropriate facilities for children with a visual impairment in mind.

3.3 Letters seeking views on the possibility of provision for VI being established at Kings Copse Primary School have been sent to all parents of pupils attending the school, and to other interested parties. The latter include: Southampton City and Test Valley South and Eastleigh Primary Care Trusts; Social Services Department; Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils and members of the County VI Group.

3.4 Twenty four written responses have been received from parents. Twenty three of these support the proposal to establish resourced provision for visually impaired pupils at Kings Copse Primary School. Amongst the additional comments, parents have noted: the school currently makes good provision for children with SEN; the school has a caring and inclusive ethos; parents are welcomed into the school and supported in meeting their children's needs; children are caring and would provide excellent "buddies" for other children; this development would help all children to value and appreciate diversity and further develop children's social skills and appreciation of the importance of social inclusion and equality for all; children with VI will benefit from the school's environment and be enabled to access the curriculum for all children, and from the additional resources and trained staff.

3.5 One parent expresses concern that an imbalance of children with special needs would have an adverse effect on his own children's education. This concern is not shared by the headteacher and it is not the experience in other resourced mainstream schools in Hampshire. The number of VI pupils at the school would not be disproportionate to the size of the school. It is intended that the resourced provision also serves as a base for supporting and providing specialist skills and resources to pupils who continue to attend their local school. No responses from other parties have expressed concerns or reservations about this proposal; all replies have expressed support.

3.6 A letter has also been received from the governing body of Kings Copse Primary School confirming that the governing body unanimously supports the proposal and that both teaching and support staff have been consulted and are in full support. Governors note that the school community has experience of a wide range of SEN; they say that the school is committed to inclusion and children with SEN have been welcomed into the school and included in every aspect of school life.

4 Financial considerations

4.1 Resourced provision in mainstream schools is funded by an agreed place number (APN). Kings Copse Primary School would receive an additional allocation in its annual budget share in respect of the revenue costs of the resourced provision.

4.2 In the first year of operation there will be a setting up allowance of approximately £2,000 with an annual allocation to the school of approximately £75,000 (at 2004/2005 costs). This development will be funded through the school's delegated budget and will not cause central expenditure to rise. Pupils placed in the provision will normally have been attending a mainstream school, supported at the "School Action Plus" level of the SEN Code of Practice or with a statement of SEN, funded through the SEN Audit element of the County's LMS scheme and mainstream schools Discretionary Exceptions Budget for SEN. The additional cost of the APN will, therefore, be offset in part by a reduction in the SEN funding at each pupil's alternative school.

4.3 The capital cost arising from this proposal is estimated to be £0.225 million and it is intended this will be met from the anticipated capital receipts, as approved by the Executive Member for Education on 18 March 2005.

5 County Council Policy Requirements

5.1. Legal implications - The proposals comply with the statutory framework for planning school places.

5.2. Financial implications - See paragraph 4.

5.3. Personnel implications - None directly arising from this report.

5.4. Community cohesion, inclusiveness and partnership working - these issues will be considered as part of the consultation.

5.5. Crime prevention issues - None.

Recommendations

That statutory notices be published in accordance with Section 29 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, of the County Council's intention to make a prescribed alteration to Kings Copse Primary School by the establishment of resourced provision for children with a visual impairment with effect from 1 September 2007, with VI pupils being admitted when the new accommodation is completed.

Section 100D - 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.

NB The list excludes:

1 Published works

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

None