Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Strategic Director of Children, Families and Adults.

Fintan Bradley explained the background and rationale for the development of an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) specific special school. In 2010, the Children and Families Service began the process of reviewing its arrangements for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND). One of the priority recommendations emerging from the ongoing review was an identified need to develop local specialist provision for children and young people with ASC between the ages of 4-19.

As a result a business case was submitted and approved in principal by Cabinet in November 2011 with a feasibility study commissioned to explore siting the school on the former Church Lawton Primary School site.

Subsequently in February 2012, changes were made to the Educations and Inspections Act 2006 part 2, in relation to the process for establishing new schools. This meant that the Council had to go through a competition process to establish a new school which would result in finding either an Academy sponsor, establishing a free school or going out to the market.

The Committee was asked to comment on the project in light of the new legislative changes.

There was unanimous agreement to the principle of establishing the school. A few concerns were expressed however with regards to the funding of the school. It was suggested that if the Council was not going to be running the school would the Department for Education (DfE) provide some of the capital costs. Fintan Bradley noted that the Council was still in negotiations with the DfE regarding the funding of the school and that it was possible that they would pay for the prudential borrowing.

It was queried what the payback period for the Council would be after the school had opened. Fintan Bradley confirmed that this would be approximately ten years.

It was queried if there was any chance of the Academy Trust or alternative provider, not providing sufficient places for Cheshire East children and instead offering places to out-of-Borough children. Fintan Bradley confirmed that during the competition process, the Council would set out a service level agreement that would ensure priority for Cheshire East children. Additionally, the Council would also remain the admissions body and would therefore again ensure priority for Cheshire East children.

It was questioned whether parents in the North of the Borough were happy with the school location. Fintan Bradley acknowledged that whilst the location was not ideal it had been chosen to reduce the need to purchase land which would have been prohibitive to the project. He added that the service had received feedback from parent groups which expressed that they were positive about having a school in Cheshire East.

It was queried when the school was likely to open. Fintan Bradley reported that it was scheduled to open in September 2014.

RESOLVED –

a)    That the report be received.

b)    That the Committee endorse the principle of establishing an Autism Spectrum Condition-specific Special School in Cheshire East.

c)    That the Head of Strategy, Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26