The Corporate Director Education and Family Support presented a report informing Cabinet of the outcome of the consultation to open provision for pupils with ALN establishing a LRC for pupils with ASD at Tremains Primary School; presenting the findings of the consultation in a detailed Consultation Report (Appendix A) and seeking approval to progress to the publication of a statutory notice as prescribed in the School Organisation Code.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support outlined the background to the report. He then explained that in order to progress the proposal, consultation exercises were carried out between 6 January 2022 and 17 February 2022 in accordance with the statutory School Organisation Code. A summary of the issues raised by consultees and the local authority’s responses were provided in the Consultation Report as detailed at Appendix A of this report. Cabinet would need to consider the Consultation Report and determine the preferred way forward. Should Cabinet wish to proceed with the proposal, the next stage of the process was to publish a statutory notice outlining the proposals which would need to be published for a period of 28 days and any formal written objections would be invited during this time. If there were no objections during the public notice period then the proposal could be implemented with Cabinet’s approval. If there were objections at this public notice stage, an Objections Report would be published summarising the objections and the Authority’s response to those objections. Cabinet would need to consider the proposal in light of objections. Cabinet could then accept, reject or modify the proposal.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support outlined the financial implications. 

The Cabinet Member for Education agreed that this was a way of making sure every child received the support they needed. He wished that this level of support had been available for his family when they went to school.

The Leader said that it was evident from the consultation process how much support there was from the staff, governors and pupils. The school already had a number of specialist classes so was already experienced in supporting children with additional learning needs and ensuring wherever possible they could access mainstream activities to make sure they were part of the whole school.

RESOLVED:       Cabinet:

•      noted the outcome of the consultation with interested parties as detailed in the attached consultation report (Appendix A) and appendices;

•      approved the consultation report (Appendix A) for publication; and

•           authorised the publication of a statutory notice in respect of the proposal.