Bath & North East Somerset Council

DECISION MAKER:

Cllr Christopher Watt, Cabinet Member for Children's Service

DECISION DATE:

On or after 11th October 2008

PAPER NUMBER

1

TITLE:

Determination of Statutory Notice proposal to change the lower age limit at The Link Centre special school Bath

EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN REFERENCE:

   

E

1884

WARD:

All but particularly Lyncombe ward

AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM

List of attachments to this report: None

1 THE ISSUE

The Cabinet member is asked to agree that:

5 THE REPORT

5.1 A recent review of Bath and North East Somerset primary age Behavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties provision, commissioned by the Local Authority Children's Service and the three Area Placement and Support Panels, identified three key areas for development.

5.3 A series of discussions followed with Head Teachers and Local Authority officers. These discussions were informed by a series of reports, such as the Audit Commission Report (2002), which identified that pupils with BESD were less likely to be accepted into schools and more likely to be permanently excluded. The government strategy `Removing Barriers to Achievement' recognized the need for schools and services to work together to deliver support for vulnerable children.

5.4 The `Every Child Matters' initiative built on these strategies by providing a common framework to support students/children and their families, with its main focus on preventative work and the integration of all services for children.

5.5 The extended age range will enable the school to make full use of its current primary provision and to support early intervention with children and their families. Separate accommodation for primary aged pupils will be provided and the provision will be managed, within the overall management of The Link Centre Special School, as a separate Primary Development Centre.

5.6 Placement of pupils in the Primary Development Centre will be through a statement of Special Educational Need and/or with agreement of the Local Authority. The provision will complement other provisions within the Local Authority and support the continuum of provision for pupils experiencing BESD. In total, twelve places for primary aged pupils will be made available in the Primary Development Centre.

7.1 A proportionate equalities impact assessment has been carried using corporate guidelines.

(a) Consultation on the broad strategy to increase the availability of all through BESD primary provision:

(b) Consultation on the specific proposal to lower the age range at The Link Centre:

Consultation documents were made available by email, circulated in advance of meetings and hard copies handed out at meetings. Also hard copies were given to parents/carers and posted to other consultees.

10.4 The statutory notice was then published in The Bath Chronicle, The Bristol Evening Post and The Western Daily Press. The notice was also posted outside the main entrance to the school, at the main entrance itself and in a local Post Office. A copy of the notice was sent to all consultees (as listed in section (b) above) and also to the MP for Wansdyke. An email reminder was sent to all primary and special schools at the start of the new term in September.

10.5 The statutory representation period lasted for six weeks from 14th August 2008 to 25th September 2008 during which time three comments were received - two in support of the proposal and one seeking clarification on numbers currently attending the school and the impact of the change in age range with the school intake number remaining unchanged.

Contact person

Helen Hoynes 01225 395169

Background papers

Statutory Notice: Proposal to change the lower age limit at The Link Centre special school, Frome Road, Bath

Full Proposal

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