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 On 10 December 2007, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) agreed that consultations should take place on a proposal to increase the number of pupil places at Lakeside School to 77 places.

1.2 Lakeside School has, in recent years, been funded to provide for 63 secondary age boys with severe and complex behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD). When it was inspected by Ofsted in October 2006, the inspectors judged it to be an outstanding school where all of the pupils make good progress.

1.3 The school's accommodation has been extended in recent years and now provides sufficient accommodation for 11 tutor bases, including specialist bases, which equates to a normal capacity of 77 pupils.

1.4 This report summarises the outcomes of the consultation which has taken place on the proposal with the governing body, staff and parents at the school, and with other interested parties. Overall, the proposal has been supported by the school.

2 Recommendations

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

notes the consultation responses and approves the publication of Notices under Section 19 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 of the County Council's intention to increase the number of pupil places at Lakeside School to 77 with effect from September 2008.

3 Background

3.1 Lakeside School caters for secondary age (11 - 16) boys with severe and complex behaviour, emotional and social difficulties (BESD). The Agreed Place Number (APN) is currently 70, having been increased from 63 with effect from 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) and have BESD as their prime need.

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

3.4 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.

3.5 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. 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.

3.6 Despite the increase in the number of places in Hampshire County Council's maintained BESD special schools in recent years, these schools are normally working at their maximum capacity. The SEN Service may have to defer the admission of pupils to these 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.

3.7 The proposal to increase the number of pupils able to attend Lakeside School is consistent with Hampshire County Council Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Behaviour Support Policies. It is made in the context of a number of activities being undertaken by the County Council with its mainstream schools to enable all schools to proactively support the behavioural, emotional and social development of all children and young people. These activities include: implementation of the national Behaviour & Attendance Strategy; training programmes for Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA); training and supervision for pastoral staff through the Framework for Enhanced Individual Pastoral Support (FEIPS) programme; development of locality teams working with families and young people; preventative and support work of the Behaviour Support Teams (BSTs), Hampshire Educational Psychology Service (HEPS) and of the Education Inclusion Service (EIS); and development of Education Improvement Partnerships. These activities help mainstream schools to effectively meet the BESD needs of children and young people, so that only a very small number require the support of targeted and specialist services.

3.8 On 10 December 2007, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) gave 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.

4 Report on consultation

4.1 A consultation document was issued on 18 December (Appendix 1) outlining the reasons for the proposal and providing an opportunity for respondents to express their views and make additional comments. Nine written responses have been received, from parents (3), staff (2), governors (1), Eastleigh Borough Council (1), Trade Union (1), local County Councillor (1). The key issues raised are outlined below.

4.2 The governing body has noted that the school's accommodation comprises only 11 class bases and that this represents a maximum capacity of 77 pupils, if classes are to be kept, normally, to seven pupils. The governors have, therefore, sought assurance that the local authority will not, having increased the number of places to 77, place more pupils in the school by relying on the ability, within DCSF regulations, to exceed the school's capacity by up to 10 %.

4.3 Special schools are funded through an Agreed Place Number (APN) which is reviewed and set annually, according to the number of pupils whom the LA intends or expects to place at the school. The APN may be set below the school's maximum capacity. Officers have noted the governing body's concern and confirm that placements in excess of 77 pupils will not be made by the County Council unless, following full consultation with the headteacher, it is agreed that any such placement will not adversely compromise the health, safety and welfare of pupils or staff.

4.4 Concerns were raised in the consultation that this proposal may worsen the staff : pupil ratio and that consideration should include "the effect on classes which will have more than seven". As noted above, the APN may be increased up to the school's maximum capacity and this will ensure that the school's budget and, therefore, its ability to recruit staff remains commensurate with the number of pupils placed at the school. Eleven class bases would enable Lakeside School to cater for up to 77 pupils based on a ratio of one teacher to seven pupils. Nevertheless, whilst this reflects the pupil : teacher ratio recommended by central government for special schools for BESD, classes may comprise more than seven pupils as some teaching time is required for working with individual children and with smaller groups, and to carry out school leadership and management responsibilities. This is the current situation in the school, as determined by the headteacher, and will not be adversely changed by the proposal to increase the capacity.

4.5 The proposal was supported in the parents', staff and governor's responses.

4.6 In 2007, the DfES (now DCSF) issued a guide for local authorities (LA) and other proposers on "Planning and Developing Special Educational Provision". This guidance states that: "When LAs are planning changes to their existing SEN provision, and in order to meet the requirement to demonstrate likely improvements in provision, they should:

· Identify the details of the specific educational benefits that will flow from the proposals in terms of:

a) improved access to education and associated services including the curriculum, wider school activities, facilities and equipment, with reference to the LA's accessibility strategy.

b) improved access to specialist staff, both education and other professionals, including any external support and/or outreach services.

c) improved access to suitable accommodation

d) improved supply of suitable places."

4.7 This proposal fulfils these key factors. As noted in para. 3.4 above, Lakeside School has been judged by Ofsted (October 2006) as an outstanding school which gives excellent value for money. Recent extension of the school's accommodation provides the capacity to increase the number of boys attending the school and benefiting from its high standard of education provision and support of pupils with BESD.

4.8 As a result of the demand for placements in specialist provision for pupils with severe behavioural, emotional and social development (BESD), Hampshire's special schools are working at their full capacity. Pupils may wait for some time before being admitted to a specialist place. This proposal therefore increases the supply of suitable places in a school with suitable accommodation. The proposal also sits within the County Council's wider strategy to develop provision and staff skills to support the behavioural, emotional and social development of all children and young people.

5 Financial Implications

5.1 There a re no capital funding implications arising from this proposal.

5.2 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 maintained special schools 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.

5.3 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 Units or non-maintained and independent schools.

6 Every Child Matters Agenda

6.1 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 realise learning potential, and to develop and improve life-skills

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

· Economic well-being : by enabling pupils, who may be disadvantaged by their behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, to realise their potential to develop learning and life skills, and engage in future education and employment.

7 Legal Implications

The Education Act 1996 requires (Section 315(1) ) local authorities to keep under review the arrangements made by them for special educational provision.

8 Personnel Implications

8.1 If the agreed place number (APN) of the school is increased, the school will receive an increased annual budget share with which it may employ additional teaching and/or non-teaching staff to teach and support the additional pupils. These decisions are the responsibility of the headteacher and governing body.

9 Impact Assessment

9.1 Lakeside School is registered to provide for secondary age boys only. This proposal does not, therefore, increase the County Council's specialist places for secondary age girls with BESD needs. The proposal should not have a negative impact on other vulnerable groups.

10 Crime Prevention Issues

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

11 Views of the Local County Councillor

11.1 Cllr Colin Davidovitz supports the proposal.

12 Conclusion

12.1 This proposal has received support from the governing body and staff of the school. Whilst few other responses were received, the overall outcome was supportive of the proposal. Increasing the number of places at Lakeside School will enable more boys with severe BESD needs to receive appropriate support and education within specialist facilities and from staff with specialist skills. It will assist the local authority in fulfilling its responsibility to make appropriate, full-time education provision for pupils with SEN statements.

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