Children's Services Management Team sponsor:

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

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

1 Summary

1.1 This report seeks approval to consult on increasing the number of pupil places at Lakeside School to a maximum of 77 pupils.

1.2 The school has benefited from a substantial refurbishment and extension of its buildings, increasing its physical capacity. The headteacher now feels able to accept more pupils, in line with the school's building capacity.

1.3 Whilst the number of special school places for secondary age pupils with severe behaviour, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) in Hampshire has increased significantly in recent years, some boys with BESD remain in Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) for extended periods or are placed in non-maintained or independent schools in order to receive appropriate education and support for their special educational needs.

2 Recommendations

That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education):

a) Gives approval to undertake consultations with the governing body, staff and parents of pupils attending Lakeside School, and with other interested parties, on a proposal to increase the number of pupil places at Lakeside School to 77 places; and

b) Requests that the outcomes of the consultations be reported in 2008 to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education).

3 Background

3.1 Lakeside School caters for secondary age (11 - 16) boys with severe and complex behaviour, emotional and social difficulties (BESD). The number on roll of the school over recent years is set out in para. 3.3 below. The Agreed Place Number (APN) is currently 70, having been increased from 63 in September 2007.

3.2 Hampshire County Council maintains five special schools for pupils with BESD: two primary schools for boys and girls (Waterloo and Wolverdene schools) and three secondary schools for boys (Lakeside, Lord Wilson and Prospect schools). Basingstoke School Plus (a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)) includes provision for secondary age boys and girls with BESD, as it incorporates the provision previously offered by Hawthorns School. Resourced provision for BESD pupils in mainstream schools is also maintained in: Bedenham Primary School, Cherbourg Primary School, St Marks Primary School and Trosnant Junior School. All pupils placed in these provisions normally have statements of special educational needs (SEN).

3.3 The number of specialist places for BESD pupils in schools maintained by Hampshire County Council has increased significantly over recent years; from 266 in 2001 to 336 September 2007. The growth in the APN for the schools providing for secondary age pupils is reflected in the following table:

* Notes: 1. BSP : includes Hawthorns School (closed 2004)

2. Prospect School : previously Sundridge School

3. Sundridge School was registered as a PRU until 2001

4. BSP : APN represents number of pupils with BESD placed by SEN Service within the PRU.

3.4 Lakeside School also has residential facilities, with capacity for up to 20 pupils boarding Monday - Friday in term times.

3.5 The governing body of Lakeside School has considered and given agreement, in principle, to an increase in the number of pupils attending the school. The headteacher feels that the school has reached a stage in the development of its provision and its accommodation which would allow a further expansion of its number on roll without jeopardising the quality of education and support of the pupils.

3.6 Lakeside School was inspected under Section 5 of the Education Act 2005 (Ofsted inspection) in October 2006. The inspectors judged it to be "an outstanding school which gives excellent value for money". The overall effectiveness of the school was given Grade 1 (outstanding). The report noted that all of the pupils make good progress and most make excellent progress during their time at Lakeside School. "The pupils make very good progress in dealing with difficulties they have in controlling their behaviour and emotions." The headteacher was described as an excellent leader and manager. "He is well supported by a team of staff with a wide range of relevant skills." The governing body is very effective and provides very good support and challenge.

4 Building developments

4.1 Lakeside School's accommodation has been extended in the recent past and now provides seven general teaching spaces together with four specialist rooms which provide areas for art, CDT, food technology and science.

4.2 Generally the use of a specialist spaces for tutor groups is not supported but, assuming that there will always be a member of staff in the room when pupils are present, this should not be an issue in the case of this school.

4.3 Lakeside School now has sufficient accommodation for 11 tutor bases, including the specialist spaces, which equates to a normal capacity of 77 pupils, based on seven pupils per class.

5 Requirement for additional BESD places

5.1 Despite the increase in the number of places in Hampshire County Council's maintained BESD special schools in recent years, they are normally working at their maximum capacity. The SEN Service may have to defer the admission of pupils to those schools until a vacancy arises. When pupils have been permanently excluded (e.g. from a mainstream school), those who meet the County Council's criteria for placement in a special school for pupils with BESD may have extended tuition in a PRU pending placement in an appropriate special school.

5.2 Currently (November 2007) 15 pupils whose prime need is BESD and who are the responsibility of Hampshire County Council are placed in independent or non-maintained schools. The average cost to the SEN Service of each of these placements is approx. £75,000 p.a. This contrasts with the current (2007/2008) value of the APN for most pupils in a Hampshire secondary BESD special school of £10,104 (Step 5 of the Special Schools' funding formula), excluding the costs of home-school transport.

6 Financial implications

6.1 There are no capital funding implications arising from this proposal.

6.2 Pupils with SEN statements have their provision funded by the County Council wherever they are placed. In mainstream schools, funding is included in schools' delegated budgets, through the SEN formula funding. Provision for pupils with SEN statements in PRUs (or other tuition elsewhere than at school) and in non-maintained and independent schools is funded by the County Council. The revenue cost of the additional places at Lakeside School should, therefore, be offset in part by a reduced requirement to fund places out-County or in the Education Inclusion Service.

6.3 Additional pupils may incur additional home-school transport costs. These are difficult to estimate as, depending on home address, some may be included on existing transport routes. Any additional costs may also be offset by saving on placement costs and transport to alternative provisions, including Pupil Referral Unit or out-county school.

7 Every Child Matters agenda

7.1 This proposal supports the desired outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda; in particular;

· Being healthy : by providing additional specialist capacity to improve the emotional well-being of young people

· Staying safe : by providing an appropriate education and supportive environment for pupils who may, as a result of their behaviour and emotional difficulties, be at risk of putting themselves and others in danger

· Enjoying and achieving : by providing effective, full-time education and opportunities to develop and improve life-skills

· Making a positive contribution : by developing appropriate emotional, social and behaviour skills and reducing risk of engaging in anti-social behaviours

· Economic well-being : by enabling pupils, who may be disadvantaged by their behaviour, emotional and social difficulties, to realise and achieve their potential.

8 Consultation

8.1 If agreed, views will be invited from the governing body, staff and parents of pupils attending the school among others. Views will also be invited from Eastleigh Borough Council, Hampshire PCT, Southampton and Portsmouth County Councils, the local County Councillor, and other interested parties. The local MP will also be informed.

9 Legal implications

9.1 None

10 Personnel implications

10.1 None

11 Impact assessment

11.1 An impact assessment will be undertaken in conjunction with the consultation process.

12 Crime prevention issues

12.1 Providing more effective and local education and support for pupils with severe and/or complex BESD should have a positive impact on the community.

13 Views of the local County Councillor

13.1 The views of the local County Councillor will be invited if consultations are authorised.

14 Conclusion

14.1 Lakeside School is an effective school where all pupils make good progress. Recent extension of the school's accommodation provides the capacity to increase the number of boys attending the school. The County Council continues to experience pressure on the placement of pupils in specialist provision for BESD. Increasing the number of places at Lakeside School will enable more boys with severe BESD to receive appropriate support and education.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have 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