Issue details

The original Single Member Decision in September 2024 (E3562), achieved cabinet agreement that Charlton House, Keynsham, could be re-purposed into a small residential and day school for young people aged 11-17 with complex special education needs with a fully approved budget of £6.1 million from High Needs Capital Allocation. However, following an aborted tender process and discussions with Ofsted it became clear that a ‘residential school’ for 12 pupils would not best meet the needs of our most complex children. This would be instead provided by two, co-located children’s homes. Each offering residential care for up to four children/young people. The proposal for a 30-place special school remains the same, with the school and children’s homes being operated separately.

Request for the Cabinet Member to approve the amended proposal that Charlton House, Keynsham should continue to be re-purposed into a special school for 30 day-pupils with highly complex needs, but with a 52-week residential offer for eight children and young people in total being provided by two, co-located children’s homes.