To inform Cabinet of the outcome of the consultation on the proposal to close one moderate learning difficulties (MLD) Learning Resource Centre at Pencoed Primary School and of the intention to carry out a period of monitoring which will consider the uptake of placements for September 2016.

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to inform Cabinet of the outcome of the consultation on the proposal to close one moderate learning difficulties (MLD) Learning Resource Centre at Pencoed Primary School and of the intention to carry out a period of monitoring which will consider the uptake of placements for September 2016.

                    In order to progress the proposal to close one moderate learning difficulties (MLD) Learning Resource Centre at Pencoed Primary School, consultation exercises were carried out between 9th February and 25th March2015 with staff, governors, parents and pupils of Pencoed Primary School and also the wider community. This was carried out in accordance with the Statutory School Organisation Code which requires the Authority to publish a consultation report summarising any issues raised by consultees and the Authority’s response as well as setting out Estyn’s view of the overall merit of the proposal. The Authority’s Consultation Report was shown at Appendix 1 to the report.

                   She confirmed that following the consultation, it was proposed to abandon the proposal to close the moderate learning difficulties (MLD) Learning Resource Centre for 1^st September 2015 at Pencoed Primary School. Given the views expressed during the consultation, it was also proposed that the school continues to be funded for a further academic year offering 30 MLD pupil places. The funding will be closely monitored throughout the academic year and will be reviewed in the summer term.  If after the period of monitoring it is considered that the class should close, then, the process to close the class would then restart.

       The Corporate Director Education and Transformation referred to paragraph 4.6 of the report, that outlined that Cabinet was asked to revisit the consultation outcome report with particular regard to Estyn’s response to the proposal.  It was recommended that a full investigation into the Estyn response is carried out to ensure that all their queries regarding the proposal are addressed.  Following this, it was also recommended that a further response is received from Estyn prior to a final decision being determined.

       She concluded her submission by confirming that the decision not to close the Learning Resource Centre would have no financial implications, as the cost of the provision was already factored into the Individual School Budget (ISB) formula.

       The Deputy Leader confirmed that during the consultation process, the local authority had listened to all stakeholders including, parents of pupils at the school, Governors and the Children and Young People O&SC who had actually called-in the original decision of Cabinet.

       He added that there would now take place a period of careful monitoring of the position, in order to ascertain if additional pupils with moderate learning difficulties are identified or move into the area, are assessed as needing a place in a MLD Learning Resource Centre, that would that would require two of the Learning Resource Centre’s to continue to remain open in the future.

       The Cabinet Member Resources added that he had been disappointed to see the reaction of Estyn to the original proposal, bearing in mind that 2 teachers would now be responsible for a class of 13, when in other schools 1 teacher in terms of ALN classes was in charge of 15 pupils.

            RESOLVED:       That Cabinet:

·      Noted the outcome of the consultation

·      Approved the attached Consultation Report for publication

·      Abandoned the proposal to close the moderate learning difficulties (MLD) Learning Resource Centre for 1^st September 2015 at Pencoed Primary School to enable a monitoring period to take place.