Archived decisions

Appendix D3

OAK LODGE SCHOOL - RESPONSE FROM GOVERNORS AND STAFF

TRANSFORMING SPECIAL SCHOOL PROVISION IN THE NEW FOREST

The Governors and staff at Oak Lodge School are fully committed to developing its provision to meet a wider range of complex needs at secondary level and will be establishing a high functioning autistic/asperger resource base commencing September 2007.

When considering the LEA proposals the school's governing body and staff concluded that certain issues should be considered:

· Is the proposed pupil roll (150+10 post 16) for the new provision large enough to cater for the range of needs and numbers of pupils requiring this type of provision across Area 6?

· If the funding to develop the new learning campus is not found through "Building Schools for the Future" what alternative funding arrangements will be made to support the development?

· Will the LEA expect Oak Lodge School to extend its range of needs further, over the transition period, or will it only occur when the new provision is built?

· Will the provision ensure that the existing good quality of teaching and learning available in the current provision be improved even further to meet the wider range of needs the new school will be expected to cater for?

· What training packages will be put in place to develop the knowledge, skills and expertise required to extend the range of needs to be met across the new learning campus? What funding will be made available?

· What criteria will be used to determine the type of post 16 provision?

· How will the post 16 provision be developed in line with the 14-19 curriculum and linked with existing college provision?

· Could the above result in a larger provision developed as a satellite to a local college?

· Will the post 16 provision be separate from the main body of the school?

· Will there be any residential provision on the site or in the community that pupils or students could access?

· The projected number of secondary pupils on the Waterside is reducing. Will Applemore College have falling rolls and will it still be viable in 2013/2017?

· If the proposal is to develop a learning campus on the Applemore site, what type of model is proposed to maximise the quality of education for all students on the site at the same time as meeting their needs?

· What will happen to the staff employed at Oak Lodge when the new school is built?

· The majority of the Applemore/Oak Lodge current site belongs to Applemore College. Is there enough space for a new build or scope to modernise/extend the existing school to provide a new resource to meet the range of needs and the extended role of a special school?

· The transition period before the new secondary school is built is at least five years and perhaps longer. Is there a guarantee from the LEA to ensure the accommodation and resources for the pupils in the interim continue to be maintained to a high standard?

· How will the Governors and Head of Applemore College be involved in the development of the campus? What are their views on the developments?

· How does the LEA propose to further develop existing provisions i.e. Forest Education Pupil Referral Unit as part of the learning campus?

· How will the LEA guarantee that appropriate input is provided by the relevant agencies to support and meet the needs of pupils e.g. occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy and CAMHS? How will this be funded?

· When Oak Lodge was opened as a school in 1981 there was an agreement between the LEA and NFDC to allow access to an agreed proportion of Applemore Recreation Centre facilities on a weekly basis for a very nominal rent. How will this be affected with the re-development of a learning campus?

· If the LEA lose the tender to run the new school(s) will the new organisation be committed to the agreements made prior to this or will they have the right to review and renegotiate?