Archived decisions

1. Introduction

1.1 On 15 December 2005, the Executive Member (with special responsibility for Education) authorised consultations on key issues relating to the provision of education for deaf and hearing impaired (HI) children. Subsequently, reports were published in October 2006 and February 2007 laying out the findings of the consultations, and seeking approval of proposed options for the future pattern of provision for deaf and HI children. Following consultations, the Children and Young People Select Committee was not satisfied that the proposals for delivery of resourced provision were appropriate to deliver the strategic objectives. The Committee therefore set up a Review Group which was tasked with seeking further evidence to determine whether the proposals would indeed achieve the objectives of the agreed Strategy for the delivery of this service.

The Review Group decided to seek the expert view of Dr. Steve Powers, Senior Lecturer in Education and specialist in deaf education at the University of Birmingham. It was anticipated that Dr. Powers would be able to provide details of relevant research and evidence (from the UK or elsewhere) and advise whether researching the necessary local data and information to answer the Review Group's questions would be likely to provide significant new evidence which would impact on the proposals for the strategic and operational delivery of effective education provision for deaf and HI children in Hampshire.

1.2 The Review Group published the findings of its review and resultant recommendations in a report to the October 3 2007 Children and Young People Select Committee. The recommendations can be found at Annexe A of this report.

2. Outcomes of the Review

2.1 A report to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) was published on December 10 2007, containing the following recommendations, which were accepted by the Executive Member.

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

1.2.1 rescinds the following decisions of the Executive Member for Children's Services

(a) the decisions taken on 15 February 2007

(b) the decision taken on 17 May 2007

1.2.2 determines that the five criteria adopted by the Executive Member for Children's Services on 12 October 2006 as the basis for the development of resourced provision for deaf/HI children, as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the report, continue to be the aims for the development of this service.

1.2.3 urges all schools with resourced provision for deaf/HI children to be committed to work in co-operation with linked schools (both within local 'pyramids' and other resourced schools) and with officers to contribute to a comprehensive pattern of provision which enables all deaf/HI children to receive appropriate support and education in a maintained school or local pre-school; and to develop in accordance with the five aims providing:

· both auditory/oral and signed modes of communication, according to the needs of pupils and parents' and pupils' preferences;

· viability of numbers to maintain security of staffing and, wherever possible, of pupil peer group;

· geographical spread and accessibility;

· continuity between primary and secondary linked schools;

· outreach to children and young people in other schools and settings.

1.2.4 authorises statutory consultations to 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 The Westgate School and Woodcot Primary School with effect from August 2009. A report of the outcome of these consultations to be made to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education).

1.2.5 asks officers to keep under review the pattern of the County Council's provision for deaf and HI children to ensure that the quality of education and support is maintained in Hampshire's provision. Officers should also keep under review the number of children attending non-maintained and independent schools, and the reasons for these placements.

2.1.6 notes and endorses the acknowledgment given by the Children & Young People's Select Committee to Children's Services' officers for their detailed work on these proposals.

3. Response of Executive Member and recommended actions

3.1 The Select Committee's key recommendation (not to proceed with the proposal to consolidate provision into three pyramids) has been accepted by the Executive Member. However, the report of the Director of Children's Services of 10 December 2007 makes the following observations about the impact of this decision:

· `Officers remain concerned [...] about the trend of declining numbers and the impact of that trend on the quality of provision for children's learning and development, the efficient use of resources including the number of children attending non-maintained schools for the deaf, and the sustainability of the present pattern of provision.' (9.1)

· `The way forward and recommendations in [the report of 10 December 2007] are not proposed as the best action that can be taken to achieve the five aims¹. However, provided that the schools work closely together, many of the aims may be achieved over time. It is therefore also proposed that the provision for deaf and HI children be kept under review.' (9.3)

3.2 It should also be noted that consultations on the closure of Woodcot Primary and The Westgate School's respective resourced provisions will go ahead as planned for the following reasons:

· The Westgate: `The school currently has only one pupil in this provision, who is in Year 11. Henry Beaufort Schools, also in Winchester, has resourced provision for hearing impaired pupils who use auditory/oral means of communications. Currently two pupils also received sign support, with staffing provided from The Westgate School. The provisions in these schools are increasingly working together. The Westgate School will have no pupils in its resourced provision in September 2008. Statutory consultations should, therefore, take place on the proposed closure of the provision at the Westgate School, consolidating its provision in Henry Beaufort School.' (9.5)

· Woodcot Primary School and Wallisdean Infant and Junior Schools: `Woodcot Primary School in Gosport has primary phase resourced provision for deaf pupils who sign. Wallisdean Infant and Junior schools, Fareham, have resourced provision for pupils using auditory/oral modes of communication. There are currently five pupils in each provision. The development of mixed mode provision will, over time, remove the difference in the nature of the support that these schools provide for their pupils. Given their close proximity (approximately two miles apart), there would be benefit in rationalising provision in this part of the County. Resourced provision is available in Neville Lovett School (the linked secondary school to Wallisdean Junior School) and an amalgamation of the provisions in the primary sector would not, therefore, reduce the total number of pyramids offering resourced provision for deaf/HI pupils in the County, nor significantly increase travel time or costs. Statutory consultations should, therefore, take place on the proposed closure of the provision at Woodcot Primary School, with continuing provision in Wallisdean Infant and Junior Schools.' (9.8)

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.

File : E3A2 (Volumes 1 and 2)

Annexe A

Recommendations of the Review of Education Provision for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children

The Review Group is advised by Children's Services officers that there are no significant revenue implications of selecting one model of provision over another. In view of this, the Review Group recommends that:

1) Given the lack of research supporting one model of provision over another and the differing preferences expressed by stakeholders for models of provision, Members of the Committee ask that the Executive Member decides not to proceed with the proposal to consolidate provision into three pyramids.

2) If the Executive Member does decide to proceed, Members of the Committee would strongly recommend that the following specific issues are considered in further depth:

a. That the Executive Member reviews the consultation responses to current proposals and satisfies himself that, as far as possible, indications of parental preference regarding education provision for deaf and hearing impaired children in Hampshire have been taken into account in the proposed delivery model.

b. That the Executive Member reviews the proposed delivery model and satisfies himself that the schools earmarked to host resourced provision have been selected on the basis of them being best placed to develop high quality provision, equal or better than that in existing established units.

c. That examples of existing good practice in the delivery of deaf and hearing impaired education are identified and used to inform the development of the County's resourced units.

d. That the Executive Member notes - and acts upon as appropriate - any future research on outcomes for deaf and hearing impaired children regarding the impact of schooling later in life in areas such as employment and quality of life.

3) That the Executive Member considers the dossier submitted by Medstead School in making his decision on this matter.

4) That Children's Services officers are acknowledged for their detailed work on these proposals.