Issue - meetings

A report seeking approval for a capital project that will offer additional places and enhance specialist provision for pupils with additional needs and EHCPs who are based St Agnes Church of England Primary School.

Members considered a report of the Director of Education and Early Years which was seeking approval for a capital project that will offer additional places and enhance specialist provision for pupils with additional needs and EHCPs, who are based St Agnes C of E Primary School. The project was intended to increase local specialist capacity for children and young people with SEND, helping to meet growing demand and reduce reliance on independent and out-of-borough placements.

The project was intended to create a total of 8 new places in a mainstream primary school for children with an EHCP, increasing local specialist capacity and supporting children to access education within their local community. (The Scrutiny Board were advised of an error in the published report and the Assistant Director of Education and Early Years clarified that there were a total of 8 new places and not 12 as stated in the report).

The report presented two Options:

Option 1 (preferred Option): To approve the capital investment required to establish the specialist provision at St Agnes C of E Primary School, supporting the ambitions of the SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2023–2027 and the Local SEND Reform Plan.

Option 2: To not approve the project, resulting in a missed opportunity to increase local specialist capacity and support the delivery of the SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2023–2027 and the Local SEND Reform Plan.

Resolved:

That the Governance, Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board, endorses the recommendations detailed in the submitted report of the Director of Education and Early Years to approve the allocation of capital funding from the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation (HNPCA) and Basic Need Grant to support delivery of the scheme.