Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1 The report outlines the objections made to the Notice issued on 5 June 2008 in accordance with section 19 (1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that Hampshire County Council intends to make a prescribed alteration to Woodcot Primary School by discontinuing the resourced provision at the school for deaf and hearing impaired pupils, with effect from 31 August 2009.

1.2 The Executive Member is asked to make a decision regarding this proposed alteration, in light of the objections received.

2) Issues Covered in Report:

2.1. Following the decision of the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 22 May 2008, the County Council published Notice, in accordance with Section 19 (1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, of its proposal to close the resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School with effect from the end of August 2009.

2.2. Consultations on the proposal were carried out in accordance with statutory requirements. Objections have been received to the Notice, including two petitions.

2.3. With regard to the objections, officers are satisfied that reasonable notice was given to the head teacher and chair of governors of Woodcot Primary School that a report on the outcome of the statutory consultations would be made to the Executive Member on 22 May, and a copy of the report was made available to them at the earliest opportunity, as soon as the report was issued. The school was advised of the right and procedure for making a deputation to the Decision meeting.

2.4. Responses to the consultation were reported fully and fairly in that report. There was not a conflict of interest in attendance by the head teacher and teacher in-charge of resourced provision at Wallisdean Junior School at meetings of the County Deaf and HI Advisory Group; this Group has not discussed detailed proposals affecting resourced provision at individual schools.

2.5. Funding of resourced provisions is allocated on the basis of the Agreed Place Number (APN) and the expected number of pupils in each provision. The proposed reorganisation of resourced provisions will not incur on-going, additional costs.

2.6. Reasons for the proposal to close the resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School were set out in detail in the report to the Executive Member 22 May. The proposal is consistent with the statutory guidance in "Making Changes to a Maintained Mainstream School" and meet its SEN improvement considerations.

3) Recommendations:

That the Executive Lead Member

3.1. notes the objections received to the Notice of the proposal to discontinue the resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School for deaf and hearing impaired pupils; and

3.2. determines that the prescribed alteration takes effect from 31 August 2009.

MAIN REPORT

1 Purpose of the Report:

1.1. The report outlines the objections made to the Notice issued on 5 June 2008 in accordance with section 19 (1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that Hampshire County Council intends to make a prescribed alteration to Woodcot Primary School by discontinuing the resourced provision at the school for deaf and hearing impaired pupils, with effect from 31 August 2009.

1.2. The Executive Lead Member is asked to make a decision regarding this proposed alteration, in the light of the objections received.

2 Contextual Information:

2.1. Consultations took place in 2006 on key issues related to the County Council's education provision for deaf and hearing impaired (HI) children. Reports on the outcomes of these consultations were made to the Executive Member for Children's Services in October 2006 and February 2007. The issues were further considered by the Children and Young People Select Committee (and its predecessor Policy Review Committee), and again by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) in December 2007.

2.2. At his Decision meeting on 10 December 2007, the Executive Lead Member (inter alia) authorised statutory consultations to take place 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 31 August 2009. A report on the outcome of those consultations was considered by the Executive Lead Member on 22 May 2008. A copy of that report is attached (Appendix 1) Following consideration of that report, and of the deputation made in respect of Woodcot Primary School, the Executive Lead Member approved the publication of Notices under section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 of the County Council's proposal to close the resourced provision at the Westgate School and Woodcot Primary School. A copy of the Notice in respect of Woodcot Prmary School is attached (appendix 2).

3 Key Issues:

3.1 Objections have been received to the County Council's Notice. A copy is attached (Appendix 3). The objections include two petitions, with 80 and 21 names respectively. The full petitions are available in the Members' Room; names and addresses of individuals have been removed from the attached copy.

3.2 The following paragraphs (sections 4 - 9) comment on the points raised in the objections and petitions.

3 Statutory requirements:

3.1 Statutory consultations on the proposal to close the resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School were carried out in accordance with statutory requirements.

3.2 The County Council was obliged to publish Notice of its intention in accordance with Section 19 (1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The Notice and complete proposal complied with statutory requirements.

4 Notification of meeting and report:

4.1 Officers notified the headteachers of Woodcot Primary School and Wallisdean Infant and Junior Schools by e-mail on 30 April that the report on the outcomes of the recent consultations (on the closure of the resourced provision at Woodcot School) would be considered by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 22 May. The heads were advised of the provision for deputations to be made to Executive Member decision meetings and the web page address of the relevant County Council fact sheet was provided. Heads were advised that a copy of the report would be e-mailed to them "as soon as it is public". The heads were asked to draw the information to the attention of their chair of governors.

4.2 Confirmation was sent on 9 May that the report would be considered on 22 May and the previous e-mail was forwarded, outlining the details of the procedure for making deputations.

4.3 On 15 May the final report was e-mailed to the headteacher of Woodcot Primary School, noting that it would be available to the public, via HCC website, the following day. A letter was sent to the chair of governors on 15 May enclosing a copy of the report. In response to an e-mail from the clerk to the governing body, officers affirmed on 16 May that the report was available on the website and confirmed its recommendations.

4.4 It is HCC policy that final reports are not shared with the public, including with those who may be directly affected by the issues or recommendations, until the date when the report is sent to Members. Indeed, the drafting and approval process and timescale are such that a report may not be completed until the final stage of publication and distribution.

5 Responses to consultations:

5.1 The report to Executive Member on 22 May noted the number of written responses received. The consultation form (attached to the report of 22 May to Executive Lead Member (Appendix 1)) by which respondents were invited to express their views provided an opportunity to indicate (by "yes/no") whether the respondent(s) supported the proposed closure of the resource provision. The number of these responses was reported to the Executive Member. The points made in the written responses and at the consultation meetings were also summarised. All written responses were available in the Members' Room for a week before the decision meeting.

6 Representations by headteacher of Wallisdean Junior School:

6.1 Wallisdean Infant and Junior Schools are directly affected by the proposal to close the resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School. The provision for deaf pupils using signed communication would be incorporated in the provision of the Wallisdean Schools. It might, therefore, be expected that the headteachers would express their views and the Executive Member would need to know whether those schools supported the proposal.

6.2 The response to the consultation from the headteacher of Wallisdean Junior School was summarised in the report to Executive Member. His submission, in fact, addressed some of the concerns which were expressed by others and noted in the summary of responses within the report.

6.3 The headteacher and teacher-in-charge at Wallisdean Junior School have been members of the County's Advisory Group for Hearing Impairment. This is one of a number of Advisory Groups for different areas of special educational needs (SEN) convened by the SEN Service. The groups do not have executive powers but bring together representatives of a range of services, including where appropriate parents and voluntary organisations, to advise officers on the development of County policy and provision.

6.4 The County Deaf and HI Advisory Group has considered and supported both the principle of moving to mixed mode provision and the five criteria underpinning the review of the County's education provision for deaf/HI children. The Advisory Group had not been invited to, and did not at any time, express a view on the schools which should or might be affected by a reorganisation of resourced provision. The headteacher and teacher-in-charge representatives are nominated by their own peer group. (The teacher-in-charge of the resourced provision at The Westgate School has also been a member of the Advisory Group throughout the period of the review)

7 Financial Implications:

7.1 As noted in the report to Executive Member on 22 May 2008 (Appendix 1) resourced provisions in mainstream schools in Hampshire are funded through an annual budget allocation based on the Agreed Place Number (APN). This is reviewed annually and adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect the number of pupils expected to be attending the provision. The provision at the Wallisdean Schools had six pupils on roll in the school year 2007/08. Ten pupils are expected to be attending in September 2008. The provision has therefore required additional staffing to be appointed to support these pupils, including two who will require support from communication support assistants (CSA) with knowledge of signing. These posts were advertised and appointments made, including CSAs who had been working at Woodcot Primary School and who had applied in response to the job advertisement. These appointments are required for pupils attending in September 2008.

8 Quality of nature of provision at Woodcot Primary School:

8.1 Reasons for the proposal to close the provision at Woodcot Primary School, were set out in the previous report to Executive Member on 22 May (Appendix 1), particularly in paras 4.6 - 4.19 and 12.2 - 12.10. The reasons acknowledged and took account of all comments and views expressed during the consultation. Officers remain of the view that these reasons for the proposal still apply.

8.2 The proposal to close the provision at Woodcot Primary School and incorporate it in the provision at the Wallisdean Schools is consistent with the five aims for the development of resourced provision for deaf and HI children established by the Executive Member at his Decision meeting in December 2007 and based on the five criteria which had underpinned the earlier review of education provision for deaf and HI children. These criteria received substantial and wide support, and were endorsed by the Children and Young People Select Committee.

8.3 Paras 4.10 and 11 of the previous report dealt with the development of signing expertise and awareness at the Wallisdean Schools. Signing has been part of the `deaf awareness' work undertaken at Wallisdean Junior Schools and the headteacher and staff are committed to further develop this aspect of their provision. As noted in para 4.14 of the previous report, support and training are being provided as part of the County Council's development of mixed mode provision in all schools with resourced provision for deaf/HI children. Similarly, Woodcot School would have had to develop further its expertise in auditory/oral provision for deaf/HI pupils if it were to continue.

8.4 Wallisdean Junior School has purpose-built accommodation (`The Ark') for the resourced provision. Children are nevertheless fully integrated into the mainstream teaching and life of the school (see paragraphs 4.8 and 12.5 of the previous report).

9 Statutory Guidance:

10.1 In 2007, DCSF issued statutory guidance for local authorities and governing bodies : `Making changes to a Maintained, Mainstream School (Other than Expansion) as amended'. Officers are satisfied that the proposal to close the resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School is consistent with this guidance.

11 Effect on Standards and School Improvement:

11.1 According to the statutory guidance the proposal should contribute to raising local standards of provision and lead to improved attainment. The incorporation of existing provisions at the Woodcot and Wallisdean Schools will result in larger peer groups of children and larger teams of staff. Children will benefit from the opportunities and social and emotional support of a larger peer group with similar needs. Staff will have the mutual personal and professional support of being in a larger team of staff, with the opportunity for a comprehensive range of expertise and experience related to the needs of deaf/HI children. Officers are satisfied that the alternative provision (at the Wallisdean Schools) meets the statutory SEN improvement test (as noted in paragraph 12.8 of the previous report).

11.2 Consolidating resourced provision in the south of the county within the same `pyramid' of linked primary and secondary schools enhances opportunities for pupils to benefit from continuity of peer group (both hearing and deaf) and from improved transition planning for both pastoral and curriculum support.

11.3 Extracts from the most recent Ofsted reports were included in the previous report. The inspection report for Wallisdean Junior School (January 2008) noted that pupils with statements of SEN achieve well because of the specialist support that many receive in The Ark. Pupils are well cared for individually and in small groups, especially those with learning or behaviour difficulties who are supported in The Ark.

12 Need for Places

12.1 As noted in paragraph 12.5 of the previous report, Wallisdean Junior School has purpose-built provision for the resource base (The Ark). The head teacher is confident that this provision can accommodate an increase in the number of pupils and can serve those requiring sign support as well as those using auditory/oral communication modes. Officers are satisfied that sufficient alternative provision and capacity are available at the Wallisdean schools

12.2 Transition arrangements for individual children will be discussed with their parents/carers and school staff, in accordance with the outline in paragraph 12.10 of the previous report.

12.3 Pupils will continue to receive support for home-school transport in accordance with the County Council's policy. The provisions at the Woodcot and Wallisdean schools are approximately two miles apart. Journey times and costs will not therefore be unreasonably extended; indeed, for most pupils, the time and distance should be reduced.

13 Conclusions:

13.1 The proposal to close the resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School was made following extensive consultations and discussions about the development and consolidation of education provision for deaf and hearing impaired children. There has been widespread agreement with the 5 criteria (now established as aims) for the development of resourced provision; this proposal is consistent with, and supports the achievement of, these aims.

13.2 Officers have undertaken full consultations in accordance with statutory requirements. All arguments for and against the closure of the resourced provision were set out in the report to the Executive Member for Children's Services (Education) on 22 May. In addition, points raised in the objections have been addressed in this report. Nothing has altered the view of officers that it remains the appropriate course of action to close this provision and to incorporate it into the provision in Wallisdean Infant and Junior Schools.

13.3 This proposal supports the corporate strategy and desired outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION: