Decision details

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all children who need a place.

Increasing provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through the creation of additional places in Special Support Centres (SSCs) will assist with the aim of enabling children to attend school locally. As a consequence, this will reduce the number of children and young people with SEND moving from maintained schools and academies into costly education provision in the Independent and Non-Maintained Special School sector, sometimes at schools not situated in West Sussex. 

Approval is required for the allocation of funding from the Capital Programme to provide the necessary accommodation at Felpham Community College for the establishment of a Special Support Centre for 12 children aged 11 to 16 with Social Communication Needs from September 2023. In addition the budget will fund all associated fees, ICT and furniture and equipment.

The Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills has approved:

(1) The allocation of £1.224m to fund the necessary accommodation and external play area as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report to enable the establishment of a 12 place Special Support Centre at Felpham Community College in Bognor Regis from September 2023;

(2) The authorisation to commence a procurement process and delegation to the Director of Property and Assets to appoint contractors to complete the design and cost the new accommodation;

(3) The delegation of authority to the Director of Property and Assets to submit the necessary planning application and to obtain any statutory consents, and to enter into a construction contract with the successful tenderer.

None