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

[email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 Dove House School has become increasingly popular with the result that, although it has an accepted capacity of 110, the school currently has 140 pupils on roll. This level of intake has occurred due to pressure from parents and to decisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). As a result, this two class entry school now requires three classes per year group. The increase in number has resulted in the need for additional temporary accommodation pending a strategy being agreed to provide a permanent solution.

1.2 The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) agreed at his Decision Day on 10 December to a consultation with the Governing Body, staff and parents of the school and other interested parties on proposals to increase the capacity of the school to 150 pupils (ie three classes per year group). Consultations have now taken place and the responses are overwhelming in favour of the proposals.

1.3 This report therefore seeks the Executive Lead Member's agreement that Public Notices be published of the County Council's intention to effect a prescribed alteration to Dove House School by an increase in capacity to 150 pupil places.

2 Recommendations

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.

3 Background

3.1 Dove House is a special school designated to cater for secondary-aged pupils with moderate learning difficulties (MLD). It is a very good school which makes excellent provision for children with a wide range of learning difficulties, all of whom have statements of special educational need (SEN).

3.2 Children are placed in special schools by the local authority and local authorities are routinely allowed to place children up to 10% over the agreed capacity of the school.

3.3 Dove House has become very popular with local parents and, as a consequence, is significantly over subscribed. Despite the fact that the school is over capacity, a number of parents whose children were refused places have appealed successfully to SENDIST for places at the school.

3.4 As a result, the school currently has 140 children in a building assessed as having an agreed capacity of 110 and which, even with an additional 10% of pupils, might only be expected to stretch to around 120. There is therefore significant pressure on the accommodation with a consequent pressure on school resources, for example the school's specialist facilities.

3.5 Given the high demand for places there is a need to take a strategic decision about the future of the school and, at his Decision Day on 10 December 2007, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) gave permission to consult on a proposal to formally increase the school's capacity to 150 pupils. This involves the provision of additional accommodation to provide for the additional places. Informal discussions with both the headteacher and the school's governing body had already indicated broad support for this proposal.

3.6 An increase in capacity to 150 is seen as the sensible limit in the current building. It necessitates a further four class bases which will leave the school with nine temporary classrooms.

3.7 To assist planning and avoid the need for a further report, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) also gave permission on 10 December for approval to be sought immediately from the Executive Member for Policy and Resources, for the siting of the two double temporary classrooms on Dove House School site until August 2013.

3.8 Under the circumstances, providing a permanent extension to the school building is being considered as this is preferable to retaining temporary buildings on the site. The likely timing for this is 2010/2011. It might be achieved through the possible sale of land in County Council ownership adjacent to the school, the likely land sale value of which is around £3million. The land in question is identified in the local plan as being available for housing and discussions about this would be held with the Borough Council in due course. Alternatively in the longer term funding might be available through Building Schools for the Future investment. The feasibility study for the development is at an early stage. However the aim is to include improved facilities for physical education, movement, music and drama and the extension is unlikely to impact unduly on the grass playing fields at the school.

3.9 In 2007, the DfES (now the 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 requirements 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".

This proposal fulfils these key factors.

3.10 If the proposal to formally expand the school does not go ahead for any reason, the situation at the school will need to be reviewed. There will need to be an attempt over time to return to a school organisation of two classes per year group and to remove some of the temporary accommodation from the site. 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 SENDIST.

4 Consultation

4.1 Following agreement by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 10 December, letters were sent from the local authority to parents, staff and the Governing Body of Dove House School and a number of other interested parties as required by the regulations, seeking views on the proposal to increase the number of pupil places at the school to 150. An example of one of the letters is attached as Appendix A.

4.2 A total of 80 responses has been received. They are overwhelmingly in favour of the proposals with only four against. There are many comments about the high quality of education at the school which is clearly highly valued by the community.

4.3 Representatives of Dove House School commented on the need for the local authority to provide appropriate permanent accommodation and expressed frustration about the difficulty in limiting numbers at the school due to the actions of SENDIST.

4.4 A letter written on behalf of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was received from the Cabinet Member for Economic and Educational Development. A copy is attached as Appendix B. Borough Councillors had previously asked for further information which has been provided and is included in this report. The letter states that the proposal to plan for a formal increase in capacity of the school is welcomed. However it expresses concern about the number of temporary classrooms that will be on the site and queries the timing of a permanent extension. There is a further comment that, rather than release further land for housing development, the County Council should find alternate means of funding a permanent extension.

4.5 The four respondents against the proposals are all parents of children currently at either Dove House or Maple Ridge, which is its linked primary special school also catering for pupils with MLD. Two expressed concern that an increase in size could jeopardise the school's atmosphere/ethos, however, in reality the proposal will lead to very few extra children. A third advocated the building of further schools similar to Dove House and the other offered no reasons.

4.6 Other comments made by various respondents included:

· the need to ensure that pupils are not unduly upset by the building work involved in the expansion

· the hope that the extension will not overly reduce the outdoor space available to the pupils

· the need to continue to ensure that mainstream schools are supported to meet the needs of pupils with significant SEN

· a suggestion that when drawing up the proposals for expansion consideration be given to making Dove House more accessible for pupils who also have a disability

· the advisability of giving thought to improving the parking at the school.

5 Legal implications

There is a legal requirement to publish Public Notices of the County Council's proposal to increase the number of pupil places at the school and take account of any objections or comments made before determining the proposals.

6 Financial implications

6.1 Placing additional temporary classrooms on the Dove House site is a call on the temporary classroom hire budget. Estimated costs to provide the necessary two double temporary classrooms, inclusive of erection and infrastructure costs, three years hire of the accommodation and fees is £236,000. This has been accounted for in the budget.

6.2 Providing additional permanent accommodation on the site can only be achieved if significant capital funding is identified. It is possible that this can be achieved through a sale of surplus land adjacent to the school, which is being investigated, or later through the Building Schools for the Future programme.

6.3 The increase in the Dove House Agreed Place Number (APN) has put pressure on the part of the overall Schools' Budget which covers the APN for places in special schools and specialist resourced provision and will continue to do so. However the situation is being managed and there are no significant revenue implications for the County Council.

7 Every Child Matters agenda

This proposal supports the desired outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda, in particular enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and economic well-being by providing improved opportunities for some children with special educational needs to achieve success at school.

8 Personnel implications

8.1 If there is a further increase in pupil numbers, new staff will inevitably need to be recruited by Dove House School and will be employed by the school from its increased budget share but there are no other personnel implications.

9 Impact assessment

9.1 If Dove House is extended more children with special educational needs will benefit from the high quality education provided at the school. Parental satisfaction will be increased.

9.2 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

10 Crime prevention issues

10.1 Making appropriate specialist provision for secondary-aged children with special educational needs is likely to help lower the potential for disaffection and may contribute to crime prevention.

11 Views of the Local County Councillor

11.1 The views of all County Councillors in the Basingstoke area were sought during the consultation period. Four have responded in writing, three expressing support for the proposals and one expressing no concern. Another asked for further information on the longer term building plans which was provided.

12 Conclusion

12.1 The quality of education at Dove House is very good and the demand for places is exceptionally high. In order to increase parental satisfaction there is a need to formally increase the number of pupil places at the school.

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.

None

Appendix A

Sue Dorney-Smith CF/SEN/dec05l06

01962 846418

13 December 2007 [email protected]

Dear Colleague

Proposal to increase the number of pupil places at Dove House School

Dove House Special School is designated to cater for secondary-aged pupils with moderate learning difficulties. It is a very good school which makes excellent provision for children with a wide range of needs. Until relatively recently the school ran two classes in each of its five year groups but it has become increasingly popular with the result that, in the recent past, the school roll has increased. Owing to its popularity, the school has needed to run three classes per year group in each of Years 7, 8 and 9 rather than two. To accommodate the extra pupils, the school already has five temporary classrooms and more are needed to provide adequately for the current children.

The county council believes there is now a need to take a more strategic approach to the future of the school and is proposing to formally increase the number of pupil places at the school to 150. This would allow it to have three classes in all five year groups. Whilst this will involve more temporary classrooms in the short term, officers of the local authority are already starting to explore with the headteacher and governing body how the school building can be permanently extended. A full report on the proposal can be found at

www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-docs/071210-excsed-R1203161116.

The local authority is therefore consulting with a variety of interested parties, about the proposal to extend the school. The views received during the consultation will be reported to Cllr David Kirk, Hampshire County Council's Executive Lead Member for Education. He will consider any views expressed before deciding whether to agree the proposal. If he decides to do so, `Public Notices' of the County Council's intention to increase the number of pupil places at the school will be published and there will be a further period of six weeks during which the public will be able to comment, before the final decision is taken.

cont.../2

You/your organisation are invited to express any views you may have on this proposal. If you wish to comment please let me have any views by 15 February 2008. I attach a sheet which you may wish to use for your reply.

Yours sincerely

Sue Dorney-Smith

Education Officer, SEN

To: Sue Dorney-Smith

Education Officer SEN

SEN Service

Children's Services Department

The Castle,

Winchester,

Hampshire SO23 8UG

Proposal to increase the number of pupil places at Dove House School

I/we support the proposal to formally increase the number of pupil places at Dove House School to 150

Yes No

(please tick) · ·

I would like to make the following comments (continue on separate sheet if necessary):

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Signed: ........................................................

Name: ........................................................ Date: .............................

Representing: ......................................................... (name of organisation)

Appendix B

PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PUPIL PLACES AT DOVE HOUSE SCHOOL

Thank you for your letter dated 13 December 2007, received by us on 2 January, seeking the Council's views on the proposal to formally increase the number of pupil places at Dove House School to 150.

I am responding in my capacity as Portfolio Holder for Economic and Educational Development, and the following comments have been informed by the views of other borough councillors who were invited to let me have their opinions on the proposal.

I would firstly like to say that we recognise and applaud the outstanding success of Dove House School. I note that the school gained specialist school status for maths and computing in 2007, received excellent OFSTED inspection results, and recently achieved the highest Contextual Value Added scores in the county. We want the school to continue to be successful and we appreciate the high demand from parents wanting to get their children into the school.

It is recognised that the school is oversubscribed, and the proposal for the school to plan for a formal increase in capacity to 150 pupils is welcomed. This is seen as regularising an increase which in practice is probably inevitable, and will allow for further staff being recruited in a planned way.

However, there are a number of concerns relating to the need for additional temporary accommodation and the absence of a timetable to achieve a permanent extension to the school. There is also concern about how the permanent extension will be funded. Further details are set out below.

· A number of members have commented on the financial implications in your report dated 10 December, and queried whether further information is available to help them understand the situation and the likely timing of any permanent extension.  There is some concern that there are already a number of 'temporary' classrooms and that the proposal for additional ones is in the absence of any definite timetable to properly develop the school. Given that the government has announced substantial commitments to bring school buildings up to standard, the suggestion that a proper school could be funded if part of the site is sold seems contrary to those announcements.

· In response to these points, I note your recent emails to Tim Boschi, Head of Neighbourhood Development, to the effect that a feasibility study on the permanent extension has now commenced in liaison with the school, and that at this stage you envisage completion of the permanent accommodation in 2010/2011. I also note that at this stage you envisage the extension will be funded by the sale of land adjacent to the school for housing development, and that this land is identified in the current Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan for 45 units. I note this land is in Children's Services ownership and is not part of the current school site, and that you estimate the likely land sale value to be about £3m. I would be grateful if your future report to the Executive Lead Member can be added to, to reflect the above information.

· The three local Ward Councillors fully support the proposed expansion of the school, and accept the loss of land that the permanent extension would cause. However, they have significant concerns over the proposed sale of land for housing purposes in order to fund the permanent extension. They consider that the potential loss of open space is to be deplored and that HCC should instead use its own budgets to fund the expansion.

Some of the children may find change very challenging, and expansion should happen in a way that minimises the upset caused to the existing pupils.  

Finally, it is queried how HCC will balance the budget requirements created by the extension of Dove House School, with the requirements within the Special Needs part of other schools in Hampshire to provide extra support to certain pupils.

I trust that you will be able to include the above comments in the report to the Executive Lead Member for Education, and I would be grateful if a copy of your report can be made available in due course. Please note that we would like to be kept informed and consulted on the emerging way forward.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Andrew Finney Portfolio Holder for Economic and Educational Development