Contact: Sue Dorney-Smith, Education Officer SEN, tel: 01962 846418, e:mail

[email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

that the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) notes the consultation responses and approves the publication of a notice under section 19 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 of the County Council's proposal to increase the number of pupil places at Dove House School to 150 with effect from September 2008.

2 Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priorities:

"Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all" and "Maximising well-being" by enabling more children with special educational needs to access the high quality education provided at Dove House School which is likely to help lower the potential for disaffection.

2.2 The decision supports the following aims of the Children Act:

enjoying and achieving; making a positive contribution; economic well-being by providing improved opportunities for some children with special educational needs to achieve success at school.

3 Other options considered and rejected:

3.1 If the proposal is not accepted, there will need to be an attempt over time to return Dove House School to an organisation of two classes per year group. However it can be anticipated that this would lead to considerable parental dissatisfaction and prove extremely difficult in the light of the recent trend in decision making by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST).

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 `None'.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

5.1 `None'.

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

6.1 Not applicable

Approved by: Date:

........................................

Councillor David Kirk

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)