Appendix E2

Review of Special School Provision in the New Forest

Forest Edge School - Staff Consultation Meeting

7 February 2007

Present from Local Authority:

Eric Smith, Education Officer SEN

Sue Stares, SEN Inspector

Sue Sayer, Principal Special Needs Officer

Present from Forest Edge School:

15 members of teaching staff.

Start of Meeting: 3.40pm

Close of Meeting: 4.40pm

Introduction

Eric Smith referred to the County Council's Strategy for Developing the Role of Special Schools and the linked consultations in 2005 with New Forest special schools. There had been strong support for closer working between mainstream and special schools.

Referring to the consultation booklet, he said that there was now an opportunity to improve buildings and sites linked to a potential Targeted Capital Fund (TCF) project for which a bid had to be submitted to the DfES by the end of May. It was hoped that the first phase would be completed by September 2009. The proposed secondary phase depended heavily upon the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, for which funding would not be available until 2010 at the earliest.

Mr Smith referred to the deadline for consultation (13 April) and then explained that, if there was a proposal for school closure, the matter would be considered by the County Council's Cabinet before the end of May.

The following questions were asked and comments made:

Buildings

1. Why is accommodation only being provided for 72 children?

2. Do we get the opportunity to look at the plans and put forward ideas?

3. Does the space required for a special school differ from a mainstream school?

4. Will we have reduced facilities i.e. the field, whilst work is in process?

5. Will the access to the site remain the same?

Staff

6. What will happen to jobs?

7. Are there to be any redundancies?

8. Do jobs get advertised outside the school?

9. Will the existing staff at Salterns stay with the secondary pupils?

Procedures

10. Do the public get the opportunity to object?

11. When will the shadow Governing Body be formed?

12. How do Abbotswood and Lydlynch Schools feel about the proposals?

13. Is the Clifford Centre being involved?

Staff were encouraged to give feedback or ask further questions via email to officers or through the Headteacher.