Children's Services Management Team sponsor:

Pam Robinson - Deputy Director of Children's Services: telephone 01962 847991; e-mail: [email protected]

Contact: Eric Smith - Education Officer SEN: telephone 01962 846245; e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the Executive Member for Children's Services agrees the following:

1 the following statutory consultations are undertaken within the preferred strategy of consolidating resourced provision for deaf and HI children into three pyramids of schools that will offer both auditory/oral and signed modes of communication, sustainable peer groups, security of staffing and outreach support to children in other schools and settings, and which are accessible to children throughout the County (the adoption of this strategy to be subject to the outcome of the following consultations);

2 statutory consultations take place with the governing bodies, staff, parents and other interested parties on detailed proposals for the closure of resourced provision for deaf and HI children at Park View Infant, Park View Junior and Woodcot Primary schools and at Aldworth Science College and The Westgate School, with effect from August 2008;

3 headteachers and governing bodies of primary schools linked to Henry Beaufort School be invited to consider developing resourced provision, to open in September 2008 (or as soon after as possible), and statutory consultations take place, as appropriate, with the governing body, staff, parents and other interested parties on detailed proposals for the establishment of resourced provision for deaf and HI children;

4 statutory consultations take place with the governing body, staff, parents and other interested parties on the proposal to close the resourced provision for deaf and HI children at Medstead Primary School with effect from August 2008, but including a proposal that appropriate support will be offered up to, and after that date, as part of the transition process for the implementation of the changes proposed in recommendation 3; to ensure that appropriate support from skilled staff is provided both to children at the school and to the development of other resourced provisions;

5 a report of the outcome of these consultations be made to the Executive Member for Children's Services, and this report to include an outline of the proposed transitional support arrangements.

2 Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priority:

making Hampshire safer and more secure for all - by helping to ensure that parents are fully involved in decisions regarding provision for their children and are able to support the development of their child's communication skills;

maximising wellbeing - by securing resourced provision for the future, which nurtures social and emotional wellbeing as well as maintaining high quality education and support; and

enhancing our quality of place - through effective support services and a secure pattern of resourced provision which is accessible to children throughout the County.

2.2 The proposals also contribute to the achievement for deaf and HI children of the five outcomes as specified in the Children Act 2004; viz.

· Being healthy

· Staying safe

· Enjoying and achieving

· Making a positive contribution

· Economic wellbeing

2.3 Recommendations in the report take account of the wide range of views expressed on the proposals and options set out in the consultation paper.

3 Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 A number of options for the future pattern of resourced provision in mainstream schools were set out in the consultation document, which is attached to the report on the outcome of the consultations. The recommendations in Section 1 above take account of views expressed during the consultation process and summarised in the report.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

5.1 Not applicable

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

6.1 Not applicable

Approved by: Date:

........................................

Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services